The Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) has called out a Nakuru club whose employees went viral dancing in primary school uniform, terming the act as not only distasteful but also unlawful.
"Section 46 of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act (2010), the Children Act (2022), and the NACADA Alcoholic Drinks Control (Promotions) Guidelines expressly prohibit advertisements that associate alcohol with minors or use school-related imagery, as these directly encourage underage drinking and risk sexualising children," KEWOPA said in a statement on Monday.
As such, the MPs called for immediate action to be taken against the club by the relevant authorities, including the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) and the Ministry of Interior.
In particular, the association urged KFCB to take action, as it has a responsibility to regulate and restrict content and performances that endanger children's welfare and normalise harmful trends.
Secondly, the proprietors of the club were directed to issue a public apology and commit to ending such exploitative practices.
As for the entertainment industry in general, KEWOPA demanded that it uphold children's identities and dignity.
Lastly, the MPs called on the local authorities to exercise vigilance in monitoring entertainment establishments and to revoke licenses for those that persist in promoting practices that sexualise children's identities.
"While we acknowledge that school uniforms may, in some contexts, be used symbolically – for instance, in alumni gatherings as a way of evoking childhood memories – it is imperative to draw a clear line," KEWOPA insisted.
"Such symbolism must never be misappropriated in ways that risk normalising child exploitation, risk children's safety or inadvertently promote child grooming, especially at a time when cases of child defilement in Kenya remain alarmingly high."
KEWOPA also had a message for members of the public, including parents, educators, and community leaders, asking them to remain vigilant and to speak out against any practice that undermines the dignity of children.
The association further reiterated that "sexual exploitation thrives when society turns a blind eye to harmful 'trends'. What may appear as harmless 'fun' is, in fact, grooming society to tolerate sexualisation of minors."
Since the video went viral on Saturday, it has sparked public outrage, forcing the club to apologise and claim that it did not support any of the claims that were being associated with the viral video.
It further clarified that the dressing code was a part of the club's culture of having theme nights when the employees don outfits representing different "professions and careers", another statement that elicited mixed reactions, as the primary school attire did not represent any of the two.
"We sincerely apologise for any negative misinterpretation that the video may have caused," the club stated on Sunday. "We remain committed to maintaining high standards of professionalism, creativity and community connection in everything we do."
