This archive report was first published on 1 November 2019.
On November 1, 2019, Nairobi's Kilimani area lost a popular nightlife spot as Space Lounge & Grill Limited shut down, citing a court order issued on October 17, 2019. The order revoked all the club's permits and liquor licenses, forcing the management to announce the permanent closure.
The club's management assured its workers that their salaries would be paid by the first week of November, but the closure has left them jobless. In a heartfelt message, the management expressed their sadness at the decision, saying, 'You will be missed by the heads of the company, and as it is said, goodbyes are the hardest.'
Justice Loise Komingoi ruled that the clubs' licenses and permits were unlawful, and the Nairobi County government was ordered to implement the directive. The decision was made after Kilimani Project Foundation, a non-government organization, filed an application at the Land and Environment Court, arguing that the residents of Kilimani area were aggrieved by the club's noise and rowdy behavior.
The residents had complained that the operators of the businesses played loud music daily and hosted rowdy revelers, depriving them of sleep and security. Lawyer Cecil Miller, who represented the foundation, said, 'The clubs and bars have become a nuisance to the residents as they have been deprived of the basic necessity of sleep on a regular basis.'
