The Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) has condemned a Nakuru club whose employees danced wearing primary school uniforms, terming the action not only distasteful but also illegal.
In a Monday statement, KEWOPA said the video violated Section 46 of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act (2010), the Children Act (2022), and NACADA Alcoholic Drinks Control (Promotions) Guidelines, which explicitly prohibit promotions that link alcohol to children or use school-based imagery. The MPs noted that the actions encourage underage drinking and risk sexualising children.
KEWOPA implored the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB), and the Ministry of Interior to act with urgency against the club. The association directed its wrath at the KFCB, remembering its mandate of overseeing and restricting performances that endanger the welfare of the children and bring about bad trends.
“Section 46 of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act (2010), the Children Act (2022), and the NACADA Alcoholic Drinks Control (Promotions) Guidelines expressly prohibit advertisements that associate alcohol with minors or use school-related imagery, as these directly encourage underage drinking and risk sexualising children,” KEWOPA said in a statement on Monday.
The MPs also directed the proprietors of the club to issue a public apology and commit to ending exploitative practices. They further demanded that the entertainment industry respect children’s identities and dignity, and called on local authorities to monitor clubs closely and revoke licenses of establishments that persist in sexualising minors.
“While we acknowledge that school uniforms may, in some contexts, be used symbolically – for instance, in alumni gatherings as a way of evoking childhood memories – it is imperative to draw a clear line,” KEWOPA insisted.
“Such symbolism must never be misappropriated in ways that risk normalising child exploitation, risk children’s safety or inadvertently promote child grooming, especially at a time when cases of child defilement in Kenya remain alarmingly high.”
KEWOPA went on to encourage the public – teachers, community leaders, and parents – to remain vigilant and raise their voices against any conduct that besmirches children’s dignity. The association stressed that “sexual exploitation thrives when society turns a blind eye to harmful ‘trends’. What may appear as harmless ‘fun’ is, in fact, grooming society to tolerate the sexualisation of minors.”
Nakuru Club Apologises After Backlash
The video, which surfaced on Saturday, sparked national outrage and forced the Nakuru club to make an apology.
The management clarified that the school uniforms were part of its themed entertainment nights, during which staff wear costumes representing different professions and careers. However, the explanation attracted mixed reactions, with many Kenyans noting that primary school attire did not qualify as either a profession or a career.
“We sincerely apologise for any negative misinterpretation the video may have caused,” the club said in a Sunday statement. “We remain committed to upholding high standards of professionalism, creativity, and community connection in all that we do.”
