The Environment and Land Court has issued an arrest warrant for the Habanos lounge owner over noise pollution in the establishment.
In a ruling on Tuesday, August 2, Justice Charles Mbogo claimed that the owner, Maurice Asira, defied noise pollution orders that the court had issued to his lodge.
Mbogo noted that Asira will be required to appear in court on October 22 to explain why he should not be jailed or fined for disobeying the said orders.
The popular entertainment joint, which borders Kiambu Road and the Northern Bypass, is strategically placed near affluent residential areas.
However, in recent months, Habanos has been on the radar of the Nairobi County Government and other environmental authorities, including the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), over noise pollution.
Earlier this year, in April, NEMA had ordered the closure of the club after it failed to comply with directives which were aimed at controlling noise in the establishments.
“NEMA yesterday issued a Closure Order to Habanos Lounge, located along Northern Bypass, following persistent noise complaints from neighbours and failure by the club to adhere to previous orders to control noise pollution. The orders are to take effect immediately,” NEMA stated.
However, after the order, the management was reluctant to close the club, a move that led to the intervention of the Nairobi County government a month later.
On Wednesday, May 28, the Nairobi County's Chief Officer for Environment, Geoffrey Mosiria, announced the indefinite closure of the club, noting that it would remain closed until the management engineered adequate measures to mitigate noise pollution in the club.
Mosiria confirmed that the county environment experts had also informed the club's management of the specific steps required to ensure compliance, which include soundproofing the premises.
"As the county government, our objective is not to shut down businesses but rather to ensure that all establishments operate in an environmentally friendly and compliant manner, particularly in regard to noise pollution regulations," Mosiria said in a statement.
"Once these measures are fully implemented and verified, the business may be allowed to reopen," the Chief Officer for Environment added.
