Karen residents now want media personality Betty Kyallo’s restaurant, The Summer House, shut down over noise pollution.
The Karen Lang’ata District Association in a letter to the Nairobi City County Government say that the restaurant has caused unprecedented noise pollution by playing loud music at night, causing inconvenience and discomfort to those who live near it.
“We are aggrieved that The Summer House, which opened its doors to the public two months ago, did not follow the prerequisite process when seeking to develop the property as is required by the law,” the Association Chairperson Silalteh Samora said in the letter.
The restaurant, which is barely three months old was launched on November 18 in an event graced by prominent personalities such as MacDonald Mariga and his brother Victor Wanyama, and former Lang’ata MP Nixon Korir.
According to the association, there was no change of user of the property from residential to commercial by either the National Environmental Management Authority or the county government. The residents also claim that they were not consulted before the facility was opened.
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“No public announcement in any daily newspaper was made notifying members of the public about The Summer House development,” the letter adds.
The complaint adds to another one launched by Lang’ata Forest Edge Residents Association (Lafera), which claimed that the restaurant does not match the aesthetic value ideal for the area as per the zoning policy.
“Please note that at the expiry of seven (7) days’ notice upon receipt of this letter without any action being taken against the said establishment, our client’s irrevocable instructions are to file the petition under a certificate of urgency before the Environment and Land Court seeking the appropriate orders compelling you to carry out your statutory functions,” reads a letter dated October 19.
This comes at a time the Nairobi County Government has revoked licences of several clubs in the city that have been operating in residential areas. Among the famous clubs closed include 1824, Club 909, CK Club, X millionaires Club, Oyster Bay, Edu’s Bar, Pitstop Grill and Claret Lounge.
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