Sunday October 20, 2024
Nairobi County officials stand outside the locked doors of Fay Bistrow, a Somali-owned nightclub in Kilimani, during a late-night raid on October 19, 2024. The club's management allegedly refused entry after complaints of noise pollution from neighboring residents.
NAIROBI, Kenya (HOL) — Nairobi County's Chief Officer for Environment, Geoffrey Mosiria, raided the Somali-owned Fay Bistrow lounge in Kilimani on Saturday evening following a series of noise complaints from local residents. The raid is part of the county's ongoing effort to curb noise pollution in residential areas, which has drawn public attention.
The raid came after repeated warnings to the club's management about the excessive noise. In a video, Mosiria approached the nightclub after midnight, documenting his efforts to mediate the situation. "Residents have been complaining, so I came to confirm the situation myself," Mosiria said while confronting the club's management. Despite his requests to lower the volume, the club's staff resisted, leading Mosiria to escalate the situation by contacting the owner, Luqman.
"We are taking legal action against you, and your manager will be arraigned in court on Tuesday, October 20," Mosiria informed the owner during the call, which was captured in the video.
The incident quickly sparked outrage online. Former Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow was among the first to weigh in, calling the lounge's defiance an act of "impunity" and urging both local and national authorities to intervene. "The arrogance of the club's management, telling off a City Council official—is this acceptable? NEMA and the City Council are failing to enforce the law," Kerrow posted.
Public reaction was swift, with many social media users supporting Mosiria's actions. Mohammed Hersi, a prominent commentator, called on residents to stand up against noise pollution. "Neighbors should have joined in. It's time we stop being passive and take action," he urged.
The raid on Fay Bistrow is part of a larger initiative by the Nairobi County government to address noise pollution, particularly in residential areas like Kilimani. Just a month earlier, the county shut down the Quiver Steakhouse Club in the same area after continued complaints about loud music.