Popular musician Ken wa Maria was among revelers who were arrested by police officers who conducted raids on nightclubs in residential areas in Nairobi's Eastlands area on Saturday night, January 14.
Reports indicated that the raid targeted joints located in Donholm, Pipeline, Fedha and North Airport road. At least 50 people were arrested in the operation.
The officers targeted bars without licenses and those that operated beyond the time indicated in their licenses.
Speaking to the press, Rhoda Otieno, director of Liquor Licensing, confirmed that the the operation took place, noting that those arrested would be arraigned in court on Monday, January 16.
"We have arrested quite a number of people who will be arraigned in court on Monday to face various charges according to the offenses they have been arrested for. I urge bar owners to operate within the law," she stated.
Otieno pointed out that the operation aimed at enforcing Nairobi governor Johnson Sakaja's directive that barred entertainment joints based in residential areas from playing loud music past 10:00 pm.
"It is about peaceful nights. We are going to enforce the directive," she noted.
Speculations were rife about Ken wa Maria's arrest, with a section of online users pointing out that the musician's performance at a local club in Embakasi was disrupted by police officers.
Sakaja, in November 2022, gave out a directive for all bars and entertainment joints operating in residential areas to operate within the stipulated guidelines.
"Bars and restaurants in residential areas must operate within the specified time and control noise emanating from their premises.
"All liquor-selling premises in the county should provide sufficient parking for clientele," Sakaja directed.
