10 officials at the Alchemist bar have been arrested after a video of Kenyans allegedly being racially segregated at the entrance of the entertainment joint went viral on social media.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke on Tuesday, May 31, Jacob Elkanah, City Hall Director of Communications disclosed that the 10 were arrested over claims of racial discrimination and noise pollution.
The arrests of the officials comes after Nairobi governor, Anne Kananu, revoked the license of the establishment following an uproar from Kenyans.
The officials will be arraigned even as police continue with their investigations into the incident.
In an earlier statement on Monday, May 30, the bar's management notified the public that it had closed down the joint to allow the police conclude investigations into the matter.
"The closure will allow review of The Alchemist, in general, to determine if there has ever been a policy of discrimination. Interviews and footage will be reviewed of the past events both at the gate and inside the establishment," read the statement in part.
The management added that they would take the time to review their security services while working in conjunction with the Nairobi County administration.
"The closure will also allow for the review of the 3rd Party Security Services based on interviews and footage to determine what actions and recommendations should occur.
After the video went viral, online users demanded the arrest of the affected security officials and the closure of the entertainment joint having been in the spotlight previously over similar claims.
In 2018, the bar was on the receiving end of Kenyan's uproar after one of its revellers claimed that she was racially profiled as she was denied a seat reserved for others.
However, the claims were denied by the management as they stated that there were no seats reserved for specific races.
"We spoke with the complainant on the phone. She'll be the first to tell you that there were people of all colors in every area. The issue was over statements made by a particular bouncer," the bar's management stated then.
