•A professional environmentalist has been appointed to guide the businesses follow guidelines by the government.
•The association would close 3,900 bars and 256,000 jobs would be lost if the directive by the county government continues.
Bar Hotels Liquor Traders Association of Kenya (BAHLITA) has developed new mechanisms that will help save their members' businesses from closure, it says.
This is in the wake of the directive by the Nairobi County government to close facilities within residential areas, over noise pollution concerns.
The county government has canceled licenses for nightclubs operating in residential areas.
BAHLITA’s secretary general Boniface Gachoka says they have come up with a number of ways, including the appointment of a professional environmentalist who will help bars follow the set guidelines by the government.
He said they have also established an online platform that will host key players in the association, and help control their businesses effectively.
“On a matter of urgency, we have told our members to create a WhatsApp group that will have the bar owners, managers, Djs and also the residents so that we are able to solve these issues in haste, and prevent the same from repeating itself,” Gachoka said.
He said that this will help in communication and ensure quick solutions whenever issues are raised in the residential areas.
“We urge all residents, should there be a complaint on any bar, kindly reach out to BAHLITA. By Posting these issues on the WhatsApp group, the bar owners association will be able to respond quickly to solve the matter,” Gachoka said.
The association has warned of massive job losses if entities are closed.
At least 3, 900 bars and 256,000 jobs will be affected, BAHLITA has said.
City Hall canceled licenses for nightclubs operating in residential areas following numerous complaints from residents.
“I know the government has no plans to close businesses nor create job loss. The President said that anyone who creates employment is his friend and we are working on maintaining the friendship,” Gachoka said.
The secretary-general also urged the Nairobi county government to develop a task force that will help monitor businesses and their issues as well.
Earlier this week, the Pubs, Entertainment and Restaurant Association of Kenya (PERAK) had stated that 13,000 permanent staff would lose their jobs, if the ban on nightclubs in residential areas was enforced.
According to the association, there are at least 12,000 nightclubs contributing to about Sh21.6 billion in revenue to Kenya Revenue Authority and various licensing bodies.
Meanwhile, the bars and restaurant lobby says that the government will lose close to Sh22 billion annually if the crackdown continues.