Nairobi County has officially declared public stripping illegal following a viral incident in the Central Business District (CBD), where a woman was seen performing a pole dance along Kenyatta Avenue. The footage, widely circulated on social media, sparked public outrage and prompted immediate action from county authorities.
In a statement on Sunday, November 16, County Executive Mosiria condemned the act, describing it as unlawful and immoral. While the video shows the woman engaging in a pole dance—a physical activity combining dance and acrobatics Mosiria emphasized that performing such acts publicly violates cultural, religious, and legal norms.
“Such acts cannot be allowed in the CBD, as they endanger the morality of our children and risk normalizing indecent behaviour,” Mosiria stated. He cited provisions in the Penal Code and the Sexual Offences Act, which prohibit public stripping and other indecent acts in public spaces. Offenders face penalties that could include prison terms of at least five years or fines, depending on the nature of the offence.
Mosiria further explained that the county government has a duty to protect both the dignity of Nairobi as Kenya’s capital and the moral well-being of its future generation. Despite receiving messages from residents urging him not to intervene in personal freedoms, he reaffirmed his commitment to enforcing the law.
“If we fail to act now, we risk normalizing behaviours that corrupt our values and expose children to influences they should never encounter,” Mosiria said.
The county will also continue its efforts to curb other illegal activities, including noise pollution and illegal waste dumping, as part of broader initiatives to maintain order and uphold public decency in Nairobi.
This move comes at a time when public morality debates are intensifying, highlighting the delicate balance between personal freedom and societal norms in Kenya’s bustling capital.
