Lawyer Miguna Miguna has backed Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja order to ban nightclubs from operating in residential areas following numerous complaints from the public on noise pollution.
On Tuesday, he said the entertainment joints should be operated in areas where families are not raised.
“Nairobi residents neither need nor want clubs, bars and brothels in residential areas. We don't need clubs, bars and brothels near our primary and secondary schools,” Miguna said.
Miguna suggested that the joints should be left to operate in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) and Industrial Area.
“These "businesses" should operate in the CBD, Industrial Area and other places where people don't raise families,’ he added.
In December 2022, Governor Sakaja announced that no nightclub licenses will be issued to premises operating in residential areas and added that licenses would only be issued to clubs within the CBD and specified streets.
The county boss additionally stated that licences already issued to nightclub owners in residential areas were cancelled.
President William Ruto also backed the crackdown on noisy bars in estates spearheaded by Sakaja.
"I want to assure my young brother, Sakaja of Nairobi that please keep the noise away from our children. You have our support," he said.
Following the move, Liquor traders, pubs and nightclub operators and their employees in Nairobi have sought divine intervention over the recent move by the county to ban nightclubs in residential areas.
The Hospitality Employees Association (HEA) claimed the directive has put the livelihoods of more than 36,000 employees in jeopardy as they are about to lose their jobs.
"It is estimated that out of the 400 bars licenced as nightclubs in the city, each of them employs about 50-80 full-time employees (a total average of 26,000 people) and 20-30 temporary employees, an average of 10,000 people," they said in a statement.
The group said they are just in the process of recovering from the hardships they went through during the Covid-19 pandemic after being out of work for two years.
