The death of Nakuru’s party scene: Why partygoers are hanging their dancing shoes

Once upon a time, Nakuru's nightlife was legendary.

On Fridays, clubs were jam-packed, drinks spilled over sticky counters and booming speakers rattled windows. People performed questionable dance moves, some of which would have been better suited to karaoke. From Kenyatta Avenue to the outskirts, Nakuru knew how to party — so much so that the city earned the nickname 'Nax Vegas'.

But fast-forward to today.

It’s a Saturday night, your favourite DJ is performing, and yet the dance floor is half empty. By 2 a.m., yawning revellers stumble out, some too drunk to continue, while the other half of the city is already curled up in socks and sweatpants, binge-watching Netflix.

So what exactly killed Nakuru’s once-thriving party culture, turning former party animals into proud homebodies?

"I remember some years back when Nakuru had a very lively party scene. That's part of the reason why we were referred to as Nax Vegas," says Joseph Ng'ang'a, a long-time Nakuru resident.

"Back then, we had so many places to hold parties. Nowadays, the options are so limited — and hanging out in the same places over and over again gets boring.”

While many blame the harsh economy for the slump in nightlife, Joseph isn’t convinced.

"I don’t think that’s the issue. When you go to Nairobi or Eldoret, you’ll still find people from Nakuru partying there. This shows that people are willing to spend; they just want something new, not the same old routine.”

Mercy Wanjiru shares that sentiment. She stopped clubbing because the experience had become too predictable.

“By now, I can almost guess what the DJ will play. It starts with old-school hits from E-Ski, Nameless and Big Pin, then moves on to ghetto house, urban house and some Afrobeat. By the time you hear 'We Found Love' by Rihanna, you know it's time to go home," she laughs.

She believes that curated events have also changed the way people party.

“People are choosing intimate R&B and soul sessions over going to clubs where they're bombarded by all genres of music,” she adds.

For Jakes Orina, Nakuru’s party scene isn’t dead — it's just evolving.

"I think things have improved over the past two years. Of course, it’s not like the pre-Covid days — that was a whole different era — but the vibe is slowly coming back,” he says.

However, he notes that the increase in cases of club drugging has made many revellers more cautious.

Several iconic spots have shut their doors in recent years, including Groundless Club, Spades Sports Bar, Club Sixty Four, Cloud 309 and SEBS.

Their absence has left a visible gap in Nakuru’s once-vibrant nightlife.

Whether the glory days of Nax Vegas will return remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: Nakuru’s nightlife isn’t dead — it’s just changing.

The question is… are we changing with it?