Kananu suspends The Alchemist club license, orders immediate closure

Nairobi Governor Ann Kananu has ordered for the immediate closure of The Alchemist club in Westlands, following a public outcry over racism allegations.

The move comes only a few hours after the establishment announced that it was temporarily closing its doors to pave way for investigations.

A viral video circulated last week showed blatant discrimination against black patrons at the club. A black young man was queuing alongside people of Indian descent and caucasians when a tall, masculine bouncer, gesticulated that he gets off the line.

“We have an image to protect and the future, I have directed county executive committee member for environment to institute a multiagency task force and a comprehensive report of the same to be made in the next 5 days,” said Governor Kananu in suspending the license.

Already, 10 officials from the club are facing charges at the Nairobi City Court.

In a statement released on Monday evening, the establishment said a thorough investigation will be conducted to “review the night of May 20th to determine if the guests in question were denied entry and if there was a policy in place to have separate lines for guests.”

In August 2018, a tweep by the name Cynthia Mbuthia accused the Alchemist of denying her two friends access to some areas, ostensibly due to her skin colour.

“Yesterday at Alchemist Bar two of my friends were told that they couldn’t stand in an area because it was only for Indians and Wazungus. The bouncer laughed in their faces as if we couldn’t do anything about it, and in the moment we couldn’t, but I refuse to let racism slide,” Cynthia wrote