A Nairobi businessman is under fire following allegations of serious labour violations and workplace misconduct at ‘Zentora Lounge’, a popular entertainment venue along Kiambu Road, Nairobi.
Recently dismissed staff claim they were employed under informal and erratic payment arrangements, performing roles ranging from DJs, hosts, influencers, and stewards to security personnel and car marshals, only to be left unpaid for months following the abrupt closure of the establishment.
Multiple sources allege that the proprietor not only defaulted on salaries owed for July and August but also failed to honour debts owed to suppliers and contracted musicians, including notable local artists, creating financial and reputational strain across the hospitality and entertainment sectors.
There are also reports that the workplace environment is marked by harassment, arbitrary terminations, and coercive demands imposed on staff, with some alleging that refusal to comply with inappropriate advances resulted in immediate dismissal.
The affected employees are now calling for intervention from labour authorities and industry regulators, demanding accountability for unpaid wages, protection from workplace harassment, and stricter enforcement of employment laws to prevent similar exploitation in the hospitality sector.
“Hello Nyakundi. Please keep my identity confidential for security purposes. There is a club called Zentora Lounge on Kiambu Road, opposite KIST Polytechnic, owned by Brian Mukenye. He opened the club on 1st May 2025 and hired guest DJs, hosts, influencers, seat fillers, security bouncers, car marshals, stewards, and other staff, paying them arbitrarily. As of now, he has closed the club without notice and has not paid salaries owed to his staff for July and August. He also owes suppliers, such as Kim’s at Dhindigwa, and musicians, for example Komoko. Brian Mukenye is arrogant and bossy, leveraging his connection with Kameme as an MC to act above the staff. He hires marketers and fires them within a month, treats staff as expendable, and allegedly forces hostesses, hosts, and waitresses into sexual acts, terminating anyone who refuses. He is currently in partnership with Paris Lounge directors. His conduct has disrespected multiple people in the hospitality industry, including stewards, barmen, waitresses, hostesses, influencers, marketers, photographers, DJs, musicians, and suppliers. Staff worked for him, but he refused to pay their salaries for July and August and closed the club without notice. This situation is a serious concern for workers and suppliers alike. Kindly help us expose this.”
We will continue to follow this matter closely as we continue exposing exploitation and abuse that appear to pervade certain sectors of Nairobi’s nightlife and entertainment industry and that the voices of affected staff, unpaid suppliers, and mistreated performers are amplified, their grievances meticulously documented, and that pressure is applied on authorities and industry regulators to enforce accountability.
