The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) has ordered the immediate closure of eight major entertainment venues across the country.
The facilities, including popular nightclubs and lounges, were shut down for persistent noise violations.
The closures took effect immediately. The affected venues are spread across Nairobi, Kiambu County, and the Coast.
List of Affected Venues
The enforcement action targeted eight specific establishments:
- Kettle House on Muthangari Drive, Nairobi.
- Boba Drinks and Café in Kilimani, Nairobi.
- Bar Next Door on Othaya Road in Kilimani, Nairobi.
- Emirates Lounge in the Pipeline area, Nairobi.
- Kifaru Place along Mombasa Road, Nairobi.
NEMA orders the immediate closure of eight nightclubs // x - Infusion Lounge in Ruaka, Kiambu.
- Status Lounge, also located in Ruaka.
- Speedy’s Bar and Restaurant on Watamu Beach Road in Kilifi.
NEMA stated that the businesses had repeatedly failed to meet environmental standards.
They had also failed to comply with previous Environmental Restoration Orders (EROs).
“The Authority has continued to receive noise complaints from the facilities even after being warned through earlier orders,” they said via a notice on their social media pages.
Background to the Crackdown
The enforcement move follows months of warnings from the environmental regulator. In September 2025, NEMA issued a public compliance directive.
That notice placed 107 facilities across the country on alert for noise pollution.
This directive required the establishments to submit compliance reports within a specified deadline. Reports included documents on noise control measures and reasons why legal action should not be taken.
The regulatory pressure comes as complaints about excessive noise in urban centres continue to rise. According to NEMA call logs, noise complaints across the country have increased by 38 per cent in the last two years.
The action is governed by the Environmental Management and Coordination (Noise and Excessive Vibration Pollution) (Control) Regulations, 2009.
Conditions for Reopening
NEMA has set out strict conditions for the closed venues to resume trading.
The facilities must close immediately. They are directed to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Operators must also secure an environmental license from the Authority.
Furthermore, all venues must implement soundproofing measures to reduce noise emissions. They are also required to conduct a noise survey to prove compliance with legal noise limits before they are allowed to reopen.
NEMA Director-General Mamo Boru Mamo previously confirmed the Authority’s stance.
“This crackdown is about protecting public health and restoring order in urban areas. We will not hesitate to close defiant establishments.”
NEMA has indicated that its enforcement campaign will continue. The aim is to safeguard environmental quality for the benefit of affected communities.
BY moses sagwe
