7 Tycoons Behind Famous Nairobi NightClubs

From left to right: politician Kelvin Shaban, former Citizen TV presenter Michelle Morgan and Nairobi Gubernatorial aspirant Richard Ngatia.
From left to right: politician Kelvin Shaban, former Citizen TV presenter Michelle Morgan and Nairobi Gubernatorial aspirant Richard Ngatia.
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The hustle and bustle of Nairobi city during the day is normally coupled with an exquisite night lifestyle. For revellers looking to fritter their money away, a number of clubs have over the years, been their fancied joints. 

Some of these joints are owned by influential and wealthy businessmen. Kenyans.co.ke takes a look at seven tycoons who established some of the popular clubs in the city.

Photo collage between Peng Cheng and Mitchell Morgan during their wedding and Alchemist bar
Photo collage between Peng Cheng and Mitchell Morgan during their wedding and Alchemist bar
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Alchemist

The popular and exotic club located in Westlands has been famed for its lavish setting that stands out from other joints. The open space club has provided a venue for various events and notable guests who have entertained fans with sheer excitement.

The club was established on December 31, 2015, by former Citizen TV presenter Michelle Morgan and her husband, Peng Cheng.

The Asian tycoon, has in past interviews, revealed that he sought to open a club which provided a different ambience in regards to music, arts, food and fashion. 

"We decided to open the Alchemist because we wanted a new, open, airy space where the music was the focus and around that, we could have a huge variety of different arts, food, and fashion," he stated during a past media interview.

The club consists of a lounge, food trucks, a designer shopping space, live music, open air cinema outdoor dining space among others. 

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria (left) and city politician Kelvin Shaban alight from a helicopter on February 19, 2021.
Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria (left) and city politician Kelvin Shaban alight from a helicopter on February 19, 2021.
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Kelvin Shaban

Club Laviva

For revellers looking to have a good time along Thika Road, Laviva lounge is usually a popular place to go. Characterised by its tiptop setting and unique concept of nightlife entertainment, the club is a regular spot for Nairobians and influential people alike. 

The businessman behind the notable establishment, is the flamboyant city politician, Kelvin Shaban. Established in 2018, the lounge has gained recognition over the years, with performances from live bands in conjunction with acclaimed musicians. 

The tycoon has also been spotted with the who's who in the country's political realm from the likes of Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, Murang'a Woman Representative Sabina Chege and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino. 

He is seeking the Roysambu parliamentary seat in the 2022 General Election. 

The late billionaire Kahama Mwangi Kirungo
The late billionaire Kahama Mwangi Kirungo.
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K1 club

Not many of the younger generations can relate to the prestige and fame that was synonymous with K1 club during the 1980s. The club essentially gained popularity due to its location in Parklands, and lucrative deals for customers. The establishment was set up by James Mwangi Kirung'o alias Kahama.

Kahama bought the club, previously known as Tree Shade Hotel, and transformed it into a notable joint that became a common go-to-spot for many Nairobians.

"We got a licence to operate after 11pm, got a live band going, brought in some pool tables before pool tables really became the rage and then for the last genius stroke, did away with entry fee. Clubs around hated us, "Sammy Wakaina, one of Kahama's sons, stated during a past interview with Business Daily.

Kahama later died in March 1998 but his children have managed to maintain the facility's bubbly ambience that has seen it remain a popular spot in a city where most nightclubs have a notoriously short lifespan. 

File image of a club
File image of a nightclub
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Bahama Breeze

In a bid to set themselves apart from other establishments, clubs often rebrand in order to capitalise on the market niche and lure new customers. Bahama Breeze, founded in 2016, underwent the transformation, in order to attract customers between the age bracket of 23 to 35 years. 

Its owner Caleb Amunga, is at the centre of the club's success. The businessman has incorporated different technologies in its bid to offer top-notch services to its customers.

"(The transformation) certainly worked for us. This is because we realised our customers are between 23 to 35 years of age and we wanted a place that can attract that particular age bracket. It has worked for us and we have been getting a good number of customers," he recently told People Daily. 

Rwandan billionaire, Barry Ndegeyingoma alias Ndegeye posing in front of his luxurious vehicle.
Rwandan billionaire, Barry Ndegeyingoma alias Ndegeye posing in front of his luxurious vehicle.
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B-Club

Situated at Galana Plaza in Kilimani, B-Club is renowned for its high-end clients and flashy lifestyle that seems to set the standards for the way Kenyans ought to party. From dress code to luxurious cars, the club has been known to raise the bar when it comes to clubbing. The club belongs to flashy Rwandan billionaire, Barry Ndengeyingoma alias Ndegeye.

The Rwandese is also known for his extraordinary life; due to his fleet of luxurious cars and designer clothes. In a previous interview with Pulse Live, he noted that he had established high-end clubs in Belgium and Rwanda before embarking on setting up a franchise in Kenya. 

Image of KNCCI president Richard Ngatia
Image of KNCCI president Richard Ngatia
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Galileo 

Located along Waiyaki Way in Westlands is the illustrious Galileo. Its proprietor is the Nairobi gubernatorial aspirant Richard Ngatia- one of President Uhuru Kenyatta's confidants. 

The city tycoon has built an empire with a number of businesses in the hospitality and health sector. He is famed for being part of the billionaires that funded Uhuru's re-election bid in the 2017 campaigns. 

The businessman is seeking the Gubernatorial seat on an Azimio coalition ticket.

File image of Balle Balle club located in Parklands
File image of Balle Balle club located in Parklands
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Balle Balle club 

The Balle Balle club located in Parklands made headlines in January 2019 , after detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) raided the joint and rounded up the dancers who were sprucing themselves up.

At the centre of all of this were the owners of the club, Shaikh Furqan Hussain and Abdul Waheed Khan - who were accused by the police of human trafficking.

The club is known for offering an experience of the Indian culture with the food as well as the belly dancers who entertain the guests.

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