By Mujidu Victor
Nairobi
Governor’s Director of Communications Jacob Elkana revealed that Governor Ann
Kananu has directed a full investigation of the reported incidents and a
comprehensive report to be tabled in her office within five working days.
Alchemist Bar’s trading license has been suspended over racial discrimination allegations against patrons and noise pollution. This was revealed earlier today by the Nairobi City County Governor Ann Kananu.
This follows uproar by Kenyans
on social media platforms regarding the Alchemist Bar racism allegation, the
bar announced that it has closed its business doors.
The incident occurred alongside a statement
issued Monday night that the bar is closed to pave way for an investigation by
the Nairobi County Government into the racism claims weighted the
Westlands-based joint.
In the statement, the bar confirmed that
the Nairobi County City officers visited the joint to access and analyze the
CCTV footage of the Sunday night, to determine if the guests in question were
denied an entry and if allowed, were their policies put in place to have them
separated from the boozer.
Alongside the investigation, the County
will also emphasize if there were discrimination policies put in place. Both
interviews and footage of the past events in and out of the structure will be
used to satisfy the scrutiny.
The investigation comes a day after
Nairobi-Based Entertainment joint was accused of videotapes played all over
social media seemingly perpetuating racism against black people by having white
and Indian revelers in one queue and blacks in another as they waited in line
to get into the bar.
In its rebuttal, the club now argues there
is one main entrance to the venue that all customers entering for the first
time must go through.
“The line is composed of people of all
different backgrounds. We have never had a policy of segregating lines,” they
said.
There was a group of customers who had
stepped out and were re-entering the venue. The security allowed them to come
in through the exit line in order not to clog up the main entrance.
The video
that was shared by a private individual made it appear that another customer
was denied entry – that’s simply not true.
Alchemist caused an uproar over the weekend
after a video went viral showing what appears to be a discrimination stunt
against black customers.
The sent video on social media platforms
showed the whites and Africans lining respectively in two queues while joining
the entertainment joint.
Earlier on, the bar clogged an apology
statement, stating how many regrets they undergo.
“To anyone who has felt aggrieved, we
sincerely apologize and look forward to sitting down together and addressing
these issues head-on.”
However, Kenyans could hear none of the
apologies or explanations with some of them retrieving receipts of previous
scenarios where the club discriminated against Kenyans.
Former Nairobi Governor and Mombasa
gubernatorial aspirant Mike Mbuvi Sonko called upon the management of the Alchemist
bar to be held responsible and necessary actions to be taken.
“It’s illegal to discriminate against
Kenyans on Kenyan soil. Our freedom fighters died fighting racism. Under my
administration, I will not have entertained such kind of nonsense. Otherwise,
this Alchemist club in Westlands should be closed with immediate effect,” said
Sonko.
