Why Betty Kyallo's Restaurant Risks Being Closed Down

Residents in Karen, Nairobi now want media personality Betty Kyallo's new restaurant, The Summer House, shut down over what they termed as noise pollution.

The residents under the Karen Lang’ata District Association shared a letter dated Friday, November 25 addressed to Nairobi Governor, Johnson Sakaja, urging the county government to close the restaurant for flouting laws on noise pollution.

The association complained that the former K24 journalist has caused untold noise pollution by allowing the premises to play loud music at night which has resulted in inconvenience and discomfort to those living around it.

Betty Kyallo at The Summer House restaurant. /INSTAGRAM.BETTY KYALLO

Association chairperson Silalteh Samora demanded that Sakaja's government moves with speed and close the restaurant as well as withdraw any approvals or licenses issued to the owner.

He stated that the restaurant did not follow the prerequisite process when seeking to develop the property as per the law.

"There was no public participation before the establishment of the entertainment joint that has hosted some notable names in the entertainment industry like Nigerian hitmaker, Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie, alias Patoranking.

"There is no change of user of the property from residential to commercial by either the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) or the county government," he added.

The association also claimed that there was no announcement in the daily newspapers alerting members of the public regarding The Summer House development.

Lang’ata Forest Edge Residents Association (LAFERA), an affiliate member of the Karen Lang’ata residents’ association, also lodged a complaint in October, through Kiarie, Joshua & Co Advocates, saying The Summer House did not match the aesthetic value ideal for the area as per the zoning policy.

LAFERA had given a seven-day notice to the director of Environment at the Nairobi county government to close the restaurant, failure to which it would move to court.

“Please note that at the expiry of seven (7) days notice upon receipt of this letter without any action being taken against the said establishment, our client’s irrevocable instructions are to file the petition under a certificate of urgency before the Environment and Land Court seeking the appropriate orders compelling you to carry out your statutory functions,” Lafera's letter dated October 19 read in part.

Kyallo officially launched The Summer House on November 18, 2022, even though the restaurant had been in operation for about three months.

The move to have it closed comes after Sakaja launched a crackdown on restaurants operating in residential areas across the city.

"No nightclub licenses will be issued or renewed from premises operating within residential areas. Those already issued are hereby cancelled and the establishments may continue operating as bars and restaurants only.

"Henceforth, nightclub licenses will be issued to premises only within the Central Business District (CBD) and specified streets in other non-residential areas," a statement on Friday, November 25 signed by County Secretary and Head of Public Service, Jairus Musumba stated.

Notably, Citizen TV anchor Trevor Ombija had suggested that  landlords should soundproof their houses, though this led to a protracted battle between him and former model, Emma Too, over his restaurant for flouting noise regulation laws.