A Nairobi businessman, Brian Mukenye, is facing mounting accusations of serious labour law violations, sexual harassment, and financial misconduct following the sudden closure of Zentora Lounge, a popular entertainment venue located along Kiambu Road opposite KIST Polytechnic.
Dozens of former employees and suppliers have come forward, claiming they were exploited, underpaid, and dismissed unfairly, raising urgent calls for intervention from labour authorities and industry regulators.
Unpaid Wages and Arbitrary Terminations
According to multiple testimonies, staff members at Zentora Lounge—including DJs, hosts, influencers, bouncers, car marshals, waiters, and stewards—were hired under verbal or informal agreements with no contracts or consistent payment terms. Many allege they worked throughout July and August 2025 without receiving any compensation before the lounge was closed abruptly without notice.
One source revealed:
“We were treated as disposable. No contracts, no respect. We kept working because we were promised payment, but he vanished when the lounge closed.”
Debt Owed to Suppliers and Artists
The club’s sudden shutdown also left local suppliers and contracted musicians in financial limbo. Reports indicate that prominent Nairobi-based service providers, such as Kim’s at Dhindigwa, and performing artists, including Komoko, have not received payment for their goods and performances.
This situation has not only caused financial hardship for those affected but also cast a shadow over Nairobi’s entertainment scene, where informal employment and non-payment are growing concerns.
Sexual Harassment and Coercive Demands
Disturbingly, several former female employees allege that the work environment at Zentora Lounge was marked by sexual harassment and coercive practices. It is claimed that hosts, hostesses, and waitresses were subjected to inappropriate demands by management, with refusal allegedly leading to instant dismissal.
“If you refused to comply with Brian Mukenye’s advances, you were removed from the rota the next day,” a former hostess disclosed under anonymity.
These allegations, if proven, may constitute gross violations of Kenya’s Employment Act and Sexual Offences Act, and could trigger criminal investigations.
Calls for Legal Action and Labour Authority Intervention
The affected workers and suppliers are now calling on the Ministry of Labour, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), and Nairobi County Government to:
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Investigate labour exploitation at Zentora Lounge
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Enforce payment of wages and outstanding debts
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Prosecute those responsible for harassment and abuse
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Strengthen oversight of Nairobi’s nightlife and entertainment industry
There are also demands for the establishment of a labour compliance taskforce focused on the hospitality sector, where vulnerable workers—particularly women and youth—are routinely exploited under informal arrangements.
Tip-Off Details (Verified Testimony)
A whistleblower submitted the following statement to CourtNews.co.ke:
“There is a club called Zentora Lounge on Kiambu Road, opposite KIST Polytechnic, owned by Brian Mukenye. He opened the club on 1st May 2025 and hired people as DJs, hosts, influencers, seat fillers, bouncers, car marshals, stewards, and more. He paid them arbitrarily and now refuses to pay July and August salaries. He also owes Kim’s at Dhindigwa and artists like Komoko. He uses his MC connection with Kameme to intimidate staff. He treats hostesses and marketers as expendable, firing them frequently, and forces some into sexual relations, sacking those who refuse. He is now working with Paris Lounge directors. Please expose this.”
A Broader Industry Wake-Up Call
This case reflects systemic labour abuses that plague Nairobi’s gig and hospitality economy—where casual workers often go without contracts, protection, or fair compensation.
As the investigation unfolds, CourtNews.co.ke urges:
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Media houses
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Legal bodies
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Labour unions
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Advocacy groups
to stand with the victims, demand justice, and expose exploitation wherever it appears.
✅ What You Can Do:
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If you’re affected, document evidence (messages, pay records, contracts).
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File a complaint with the Labour Office or Small Claims Court.
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Report sexual harassment to the Kenya Police Gender Desk or FIDA-Kenya.