Sakaja Singles Out Areas You Can Party In Nairobi [LIST]

The Nairobi County government on Thursday, March 23 identified parts of the Central Business District(CBD), Upperhill, and Westlands among areas zoned as commercial areas for the operation of nightclubs.

The move comes amidst plans by Governor Johnson Sakaja's administration to regulate the setting up of entertainment joints in residential areas.

The County’s Alcoholic Drinks Control and Licensing Board had named areas within the city’s commercial sites for licensing and allowing the operation of nightclubs.

Outside a club in Westlands, Nairobi. /FILE

Within the Central Business District (CBD) the zone of partying is at Tom Mboya Street, Moi Avenue, Koinange Street, University Way, River Road, Uhuru Highway, and Harry Thuku Road.

In Karen, the proposed areas are listed as a section of Ngong Road, Lang’ata Road and Karen Road.

In the Upper Hill area, the locations include Hospital Road, Elgon, Upper Hill Link, Mutambato, Kiambere and Railway line.

The residents of the Industrial area can be entertained at the proposed areas such as Landhies Road, Bunyala Road, Enterprise Road, Outering, Dandora, Kariobangi Industrial Zone, Mathare North Industrial zone, Makadara Railways, Viwandani among other zones in the larger Eastlands.

In Westlands areas, zoned spots include Chiromo road, Crossway, Mutithi, Ojijo, Mogotio and Parklands roads

Other areas are Muratina Street, Kipande Athumani, Nairobi River, Limu4u road, Mweni and Ring Road in Ngara.

“We cannot continue to have noise pollution in residential areas, bars and clubs will have designated zones in the city where they will operate. I have also directed the enforcement teams to execute their full mandate and ensure noise pollution in residential areas becomes a thing of the past,” Sakaja noted.

Governor Sakaja further identified shopping malls within the city as other areas where bars can be set up. However, proprietors will have to install soundproof materials and get approvals from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to be able to operate in malls.

Rhoda Otieno, Director of the Liquor Board, stated that the move is aimed at encouraging business operators, operating night clubs, to consider moving to the CBD. She reiterated that premises operating in residential areas will only be granted bar and restaurant licenses and will operate until 11 pm. 

“Quite a number of premises have complied with the directive issued in November 2022 and have made efforts to soundproof and operate within the NCCG guidelines. This proposal is set to be presented to members of the public for input through public participation forums,” Otieno stated.

Sakaja in November 2022 cancelled licenses issued to nightclubs operating in residential areas as well as stopped renewals of the same.

The first-time governor added that bars and restaurants in residential areas must operate within the specified time and control noise emanating from the premises. Specifically, the playing of music must stop by 10 pm.

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.

It was however opposed by Members of the Nairobi County Assembly who directed Sakaja to lift the order issued on November 25, 2022, arguing that it “was not clear and it is affecting all the nightclubs, even those that are compliant.”