In the 90s, Nakuru was proud to have three cinemas in Shabab and two in the Central Business District (CBD) known as the Empress, Odeon and Eros cinemas.

Today, however, the Eros and Empress cinemas have been converted into churches, while the Odeon remains closed.

Odeon Cinema in Nakuru Central Business District.

Photo credit: Mercy Kihugu/Mtaa Wangu

Ben Ndonga, a Nakuru resident, remembers when people used to flock to the cinemas, with movie lovers travelling from far and wide to enjoy a film.

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"Most movie lovers preferred to go to Odeon, but would still visit Eros when their favourite movies were screened, while Shabab catered to the local audience," he recalls.

Ndonga notes that advances in technology and innovation gradually reduced the number of cinema-goers.

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The emergence of community cinemas and the evolution of televisions to smart TVs contributed to the decline, eventually leading to the closure of cinemas.

"The Empress Cinema was the first to close, followed by the Eros and finally the Odeon, leaving film lovers with no place to watch films except in the comfort of their own homes or by visiting other cities," he adds.

Empress Cinema in Shabab which is now converted to The Happy Church.

Photo credit: Mercy Kihugu/Mtaa Wangu

He emphasizes the importance of reopening cinemas in Nakuru given their absence in the town, and suggests that they should also embrace new technologies to attract the younger generation.

"This will help revive the cinema-going culture, especially among the younger generation who missed out on the cinema era," he says.

In an interview with Mtaa Wangu in March, David Mwangi, the managing director of Cyprus Park, revealed that the investors in Cyprus Amusement Park had initiated the construction of a cinema.

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They are renovating one of the silos to create a 100-seat cinema, which is expected to be completed by April this year, although it is yet to open.

Once completed, this cinema will satisfy the residents' desire to watch films in a well-equipped cinema, fulfilling their long-awaited experience.

mercykihugu@gmail.com

The end of an era: Why cinemas died in Nakuru

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Mercy Kihugu