A few years ago, before Nakuru officially became a city, its streets buzzed with energy, especially at weekends, as revellers flocked to the town centre for the nightlife.

Iconic spots such as Cloud 309, SEBS and Club 64 lit up the evenings and attracted partygoers from all over.

Today, however, a walk through Nakuru town centre in the early hours of the night paints a very different picture - it resembles a ghost town.

The streets are mostly deserted, save for a handful of taxi drivers, boda boda riders, a few homeless people sleeping on the pavements and the occasional twilight girl.

This quiet contrast is a far cry from the lively bustle that once defined Nakuru's nightlife.

Amos Wanjala, a long-time Nakuru resident, recalls a time in 2018 when club hopping in the city centre was the norm.

"Back then, my friends and I lived near Afraha Stadium, so it was very convenient to party in the city. We would hop from one club to another until the sun came up," he recalls.

Wanjala fondly remembers the crowds at SEBS during the famous "aluta" sessions. "As dawn approached, SEBS would still be packed and you wouldn't realise the sun was rising until you ventured outside the club and saw people going to church," he adds.

Winnie Maina, another resident, remembers the vibrant days of Rafikis, Simba Kitoko, Club Gituamba and Coco Savannah.

"Between 2014 and 2018, the nightlife in the city centre was incredible. There were so many clubs to choose from and the streets were always busy with revellers moving from one venue to another. However, theft was also a big problem in those days," she says.

Today, Nakuru's nightlife landscape has changed drastically. Most of the clubs in the town centre have either closed down or transformed into other businesses.

SEBS closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, while others like Cloud 309 and Rafikis have been repurposed.

A Safaricom Shop now occupies what used to be Cloud 309.

Photo credit: Bret Sanya/Mtaa Wangu

The shift isn't just about closures. Many nightlife venues have moved closer to residential areas, catering to a clientele that now prefers the convenience of partying closer to home.

This shift has left the city centre a quiet shadow of its once vibrant self.

Nakuru CBD clubs losing steam as revellers take the party closer home

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Muthoni Wanjiku