Nearly a week after Nema and Nairobi City County Government ordered for the closure of Oyster Bay Restaurant in Kilimani citing sound pollution complaints from residents, the management is now seeking its reopening.
Oyster Bay management recently condemned the move terming the closure a witch hunt by its known competitors through state agencies.
“We have spent over 10 million shillings complying with Nema regulations but they keep finding new loop holes, this is obviously a witch hunt by our well known competitors using state agencies,” said Sarah Mwangi, General Manager Oyster Bay.
Oyster Bay’s management holds that the county government is infringing the rights of its over 300 employees trying to earn a living in a high cost economy, therefore asking Governor Sakaja to reopen the joint.
Sarah also revealed that the music is always off at 10pm yet she has suffered arrests on the premises previously on baseless accusations.
Nairobi’s largest upmarket restaurant now rendered a ghost town.
Additionally, she stated that the closure by the Nairobi City County Government intentionally targeted a shut down right before the Easter weekend; which happens to be the busiest weekend in the first quarter of the year.
“The restaurant was fitted with a sound proof, a roof amongst a raft of other measures which have cost the business millions of shillings. We even invited sound engineers to the premises to ascertain the standards of the work done,” she says.
Oyster Bay’s advocate Beatrice Maina too also weighing on the issue vowed to fight to the end.
“This is clearly a witch hunt because an advocate who came to find out reasons for the shutdown despite a pending court order was also arrested. Oyster Bay is a decent place where I hold my business meetings so this is clearly a witch hunt by known competitors using state agencies because it is the biggest and best upmarket restaurant in Nairobi. We are ready to fight and ensure this matter gets to the relevant authorities; we will also file for contempt,” she said.
