A Mombasa youth lobby group has accused a popular entertainment joint in Nyali of multiple regulatory and constitutional violations, prompting calls for urgent investigations by both county and national authorities.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Capital Youths Caucus Association of Kenya said it had received formal complaints from Nyali residents and affected workers alleging that Alcapone Lounge was involved in noise pollution, labour rights abuses, and breaches of public health and safety regulations.
The group said residents living near the establishment have endured persistent and excessive noise, which they argue violates the constitutional right to a clean, safe and healthy environment. According to the association, the noise has disrupted sleep and negatively affected the general well-being of the surrounding community.
The youth group also raised concerns over alleged discriminatory employment practices, claiming that local residents are being sidelined in favour of workers sourced from outside Mombasa County. They argue that such practices undermine constitutional provisions on equality, non-discrimination and fair labour practices.
Further allegations include labour exploitation, with complaints of underpayment, harassment, intimidation, lack of written contracts and unfair working conditions. The association said these claims, if proven, would amount to violations of the Employment Act, 2007, and constitutional labour protections.
In addition, the group cited reports of unsafe working conditions at the establishment, alleging non-compliance with occupational safety and health standards, potentially exposing workers to serious risks.
Public health concerns were also highlighted, including alleged cases of food poisoning and drink spiking. The association warned that such claims pose grave risks to public safety and violate the constitutional right to the highest attainable standard of health. Concerns were also raised over the possible exposure of minors to harmful nightlife environments.
The statement further alleged possible non-compliance with alcohol control regulations under the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), as well as questions over tax and statutory compliance, which the group said undermine the principles of integrity and accountability.
The Capital Youths Caucus Association has now called on several agencies—including NACADA, the Public Health Department, the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), and labour and occupational safety officers—to independently investigate the operations, management and ownership of the establishment.
Among its demands are the immediate mitigation of noise pollution, a comprehensive labour audit, strict enforcement of public health and alcohol control laws, and the protection of workers’ rights. The group also urged authorities to ensure that local residents are prioritised for employment opportunities.
While insisting it supports business and investment, the association said all enterprises must operate within the law, respect human dignity and safeguard community welfare. It warned that failure by authorities to act would force the group to escalate the matter to oversight institutions, civil society organisations and national media.
The association has announced that it will hold a press conference on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. outside Alcapone Lounge in Nyali to further address the issues raised.
