Nairobi County Government on Thursday, March 23, listed areas zoned as commercial centres for the operation of nightclubs.
Governor Johnson Sakaja identified Central Business District (CBD), Upperhill, and Westlands among eight zones where business persons will in future establish entertainment clubs.
Other areas included Ngara Shopping Centre, Pangani, Industrial Area and the Karen Triangle.
“We cannot continue to have noise pollution in residential areas, bars and clubs will have designated zones in the city where they will operate.
"I have also directed the enforcement teams to execute their full mandate and ensure noise pollution in residential areas becomes a thing of the past,” Sakaja noted.
He added that his administration sought new ways to ensure nightclub businesses thrive in the county while protecting residents from noise pollution.
The County’s Alcoholic Drinks Control and Licensing board was tasked with working with National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to expand the entertainment business.
NEMA and Nairobi County began working on a framework requiring proprietors to install soundproof materials before getting licenses for setting up nightclubs in malls.
The director of the County Alcoholic Drinks Control and Licensing Board, Rhoda Otieno, stated that premises operating in residential areas will only operate until 11 pm.
“Quite a number of premises have complied with the directive issued in November 2022 and have made efforts to soundproof and operate within the NCCG guidelines.
This proposal is set to be presented to members of the public for input through public participation forums,” Otieno noted.
In December 2022, Lawyer Kevine Otieno Ondago moved to court to challenge the decision of Governor Sakaja to close down nightclubs in residential areas following public uproar over noise pollution.
Sakaja had ordered closure of all noisy nightclubs within residential areas before the president of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) Richard Ngatia intervened.
The Nairobi Governor confirmed that he was working on modalities that would see businesses thrive and city residents protected from noise pollution.
