Habanos Lounge, the well-known nightspot perched along Northern Bypass near Kiambu Road, has been ordered to shut down by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) with immediate effect, following repeated noise complaints and a record of defying regulatory instructions.

The directive, issued on Wednesday, brings to a halt operations at the venue, which has come under increasing scrutiny over its impact on nearby residential areas.

“NEMA yesterday issued a Closure Order to Habanos Lounge, located along Northern Bypass, following persistent noise complaints from neighbours and failure by the club to adhere to previous orders to control noise pollution. The orders are to take effect immediately,” the authority stated.

The decision follows pressure that has been mounting for weeks — both from affected residents and within government — as grievances over disruptive sound levels intensified.

The club’s close proximity to upscale homes has turned it into a symbol of the broader noise pollution debate, especially in neighbourhoods where nightlife meets family living.

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Earier this month, a government official publicly called out the lounge over its failure to address the disturbance, revealing the extent to which nearby households had gone to seek relief.

“Dear HABANOS, please install Soundproof and copy your neighbour’s BND. The children & families as far off as Ridgeways live as if they are inside your club. An old lady told me she has had to invest in soundproofing her house because of the noise. Please.”

Sources familiar with the situation say that several homes in the vicinity of the establishment have resorted to installing costly soundproof systems in a desperate attempt to muffle the nightly commotion.

NEMA’s action against Habanos is part of a broader campaign targeting entertainment venues operating without effective sound control in residential areas. 

The Authority has repeatedly stated that while it supports business and leisure, such ventures must not infringe upon the peace of surrounding communities.

As enforcement kicks in, the spotlight now turns to other establishments facing similar allegations, with the message clear: silence is not just golden, it is now enforceable.