Nairobi Chief Officer for Environment Geoffrey Mosiria has issued a sharp warning to city residents after a woman was filmed pole dancing in the middle of Kenyatta Avenue, drawing crowds and prompting a flurry of reactions online.
Videos shared widely on social media show the woman performing an impromptu pole dance on the busy street as curious onlookers watched and recorded the scene.
Although Mosiria referred to it as “public stripping,” the footage depicts a pole dancing routine — an activity that combines dance and acrobatics.
In a statement released on Sunday, November 16, Mosiria said such acts cannot be allowed within the Central Business District, describing them as unlawful, immoral, and potentially harmful to children who frequent the area.
He stressed that public indecency violates several Kenyan laws, including provisions in the Penal Code and the Sexual Offences Act, which prohibit public stripping or displaying indecent acts in open spaces.
Offenders can face a minimum of five years in prison, fines, or both depending on the nature of the offence.
Mosiria revealed that he had received dozens of messages from residents urging him not to “interfere with other people’s business.” But he insisted that the county government must act to protect public morality and uphold the dignity of the city.
“If we fail to act now, we risk normalising behaviours that corrupt our values and expose our children to influences they should never encounter,” he said. “Our responsibility is to safeguard both the dignity of our city and the morality of the next generation.”
He reminded the public that Kenya’s laws clearly prohibit public stripping or indecent displays, and warned that similar incidents will attract serious legal consequences.
