Inside a Nakuru social club event and why they have gained popularity

When I attended the Nakuru Social Club team-building event at Lord Egerton Castle, I honestly didn’t know what to expect.

‎‎To begin with, I was surprised by the number of young people who turned up. Despite the facility hosting other groups, it was easy to identify the Nakuru Social Club team because of their energy and coordination.

‎‎Although some participants had clearly come with their friends, they didn’t seclude themselves or form exclusive cliques.

Instead, they interacted freely with others, turning the entire event into a warm, community-like experience.

‎‎‎‎Throughout all the activities, I didn’t see any young person drunk, holding a drink, or even attempting to purchase alcohol.

This simply proved that young people can have wholesome fun without intoxication, and it was lovely to witness.

‎‎However, it’s also clear that the group mainly appeals to Gen Z. For millennials, I won’t lie you might feel slightly out of place.

‎‎According to Oscar Mboya, he first learnt about the Social Club from TikTok. Since he often spent Sundays indoors, he decided to take a chance and join one of the meet-ups.

‎‎“My first meet-up was the Bahati Falls one, and it was a risk because I hadn’t interacted with the group before. Luckily, the location was close to where I lived,” he says.

‎‎Mboya adds that the experience was wholesome and inspired him to be more outgoing and interactive with other young people.

‎‎“I have attended three meetings so far, and each time I meet new people. Through these interactions, I’ve been able to make friends,” he says.

‎‎For first-timer Sheila Korir, she is grateful to the friend who recommended the social club, noting that the event helped her step out of her comfort zone.

‎‎“It is difficult for me to meet new people, but through this meet-up, I’ve realized it’s not as hard as I thought. People are very accommodating and welcoming, which makes it easier to make friends,” she says.

‎‎Sheila adds that she hopes to keep attending future meet-ups since her first experience allowed her to make more than ten new friends.

‎‎Evaline Wambui shares that she joined the social club after returning to Nakuru and realizing she didn’t have friends to hang out with.

‎‎“It used to feel very lonely, especially on Sundays. I had just moved to Nakuru when I stumbled upon the Social Club’s activities on TikTok and decided to join,” she says.

‎‎Wambui notes that the meet-ups have redefined how young people experience fun, proving they don’t need to be in a club or intoxicated to enjoy themselves.

She now encourages her friends to attend the club’s events.

‎‎According to Damian Nyakundi, the Co-founder of the Nakuru Social Club, the platform was created to provide a safe space where young people can have fun while also speaking about mental wellness.

‎‎He adds that making the meet-ups drug-free was intentional, as the team aims to redefine youthful entertainment, given that drug and substance abuse contribute significantly to depression among young people.

‎‎“We do not accept drunk people in our meet-ups. If anyone comes while drunk, we refund their money immediately. We are very strict about this because we want to build a community where young people can be themselves without being under the influence,” he says.