How Sakaja Targeted 42 Clubs, Owners In Nairobi Crackdown [LIST]

The Nairobi County government had previously advised at least 42 bars and restaurants against noise pollution ahead of Governor Johnson Sakaja's move to immediately ban nightclubs operating in residential areas.

The joints were put on notice following complaints filed at the Directorate of Environment, Water and Sanitation regarding noise pollution which prompted county officials to carry out spot checks on the clubs.

The county officials reported finding faults in the premises through noise assessment checks and had issued noise improvement notices to them, with their owners or managers arrested for flouting the regulations.

The Loft Lounge in Nairobi. /CAPITAL GROUP

Police officers over the weekend raided many of the clubs across the city which were found to have broken the governor's directives to playing loud music. Sakaja had ordered the joints to stop playing music beyond 10 pm.

The governor had cancelled the licences of the entertainment joints operating in residential areas on Friday, November 25 before deploying police officers who closed the clubs and forced revellers out of the premises.

Some of them were initially put on notice by the Nairobi City County Council Alcoholic Drinks Control and Licencing Board Director of Liquor Licensing Hesbon Agwena in a letter to county technical teams including security, health officials and the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) on Monday, October 3.

The clubs include:

1. Oysterbay bar 
2. 909 Lounge 
3. Quiver Lounge 
4. Barizi club 
5. Club 1824 
6. Pistop club 
7. Claret 
8. Egesa Villa 
9. Onyx 
10. Gucci Bar (Former Uptown Grill)
11. Amazon Park M
12. Cliques Lounge
13. Oaks & Corks
14. Ferrero
15. Unnamed Miraa kiosk Menelik road, Kilimani
16. Victoria Breeze
17. The kettle House
18. Empire Lounge
19. Casa Vera Lounge
20. Roadhouse Grill
21. Blackyz Lounge
22. Gemini Bistro
23. Cigars & Booze
24. Eltaju Bistro
25. Cloud Twenty
26. Cavalli Lounge
27. Hera Aqua Gardens
28. Zinque Tavern
29. Joanna’s Kitchen
30. City Ranch
31. Miale Lounge
32. Eltajau Bistro
33. Ashaki Bar and Grill
34. Cloud 20
35. Fine Breeze Grill
36. iBury Lounge
37. The Bar Next Door
38. Claret Lounge
39. Barizi Lounge
40. Egesa Lounge
41. 909 Lounge
42. Oyster Bay

Club 1824 became one of the popular targets of the crackdown on Sunday, November 27 when police officers stormed the premises and ordered all revellers out of the club, regardless of whether or not they finished their drinks.

The operation received recognition from President William Ruto who was in support of the move as a way of ensuring that Nairobi upholds the standards of a capital city.

"To Governor Sakaja, keep the noise away from our children. You have our support in ensuring that we reorganize the city. Ensure that the Standards of Nairobi are the Standards of the Capital City of Kenya," the President said.

“I know I have discussed with you this before and you have my support in ensuring we reorganise the city and make it work for all the residents."