Governor Johnson Sakaja announced reforms affecting Nairobi’s liquor and entertainment businesses.
Governor Johnson Sakaja announces protections for DJs and revellers and opens 14-day consultations on entertainment taxes.
Governor Johnson Sakaja has announced an end to Nairobi night raids targeting liquor and entertainment venues. The move forms part of county reforms aimed at addressing operators’ concerns and improving revenue collection.
Sakaja announced the measures after meeting liquor and entertainment industry stakeholders on Wednesday, November 11. The discussions also covered enforcement conduct, noise complaints, licensing and entertainment taxes.
Nairobi night raids reforms protect DJs and revellers
According to Sakaja, the meeting agreed to stop arrests targeting DJs and the confiscation of their sound equipment. Stakeholders also secured an agreement to end harassment of revellers at entertainment venues.
The industry caucus said harassment had increased, particularly involving police officers. These concerns formed part of the challenges operators raised during their discussions with the governor.
On noise complaints, the meeting agreed that complainants, often residential property owners, must provide supporting evidence. However, the statement following the meeting said authorities must use proper procedures when taking action against venue owners at fault.
The measures therefore pair protections for operators and patrons with a requirement for evidence when handling noise disputes. They also require proper enforcement procedures where an entertainment business breaches the rules.
County opens tax talks and identifies inspection officers
Meanwhile, the county agreed to a 14-day consultation period on entertainment and event taxes under the 2026 Finance Act. Operators also received encouragement to use LiquorPay for their licensing needs.
The county introduced LiquorPay at the beginning of the year to digitise liquor licensing and renewals. The fully automated platform handles the process from start to finish.
Alongside those changes, the county published a list of authorised inspection officers to help curb harassment by rogue officers and impostors. It said it had vetted and approved the personnel.
The county listed 364 officers across sub-counties and wards to decentralise revenue collection and strengthen enforcement. Starehe, Kamukunji and Mathare each have 28 authorised officers, while Langata has five.
Other allocations include 19 officers in Ruaraka, eight in Makadara and 12 each in Kasarani and Dagoretti South. The initiative assigns personnel to wards from the central business district to informal settlements.
Through these deployments, the county aims to close revenue leaks while ensuring businesses comply with county requirements.
