Kenyan podcaster Karen ‘Kaz’ Lucas has blasted who led to the closure of Alchemist Bar over claims of racial discrimination.
Kaz came to the defense of the Nairobi bar which has been on the spot several for racism claims noting that the move by social media users has had a huge impact to the staff who have lost their livelihoods.
“The number of jobs, hungry homes and loss the Alchemist has had to suffer at the hand of keyboard bullies is just despicable. You have no idea how powerful your phones are until you are responsible for all the mouths that go hungry because of your actions,” she wrote.
The former singer called on social media users to be more responsible by using the power of the internet for good and expressed her full support for the popular joint by posting, “Yes, we can be activists but use your power wisely. Look what you have done. Shame on you. I support the Alchemist.”
This comes hours after the bar announced it would close its doors pending investigations into the incident, which attracted backlash online as reported by The Sauce.
A statement issued Monday night by The Alchemist said this was to pave the way for investigations by the Nairobi County Government into fresh racism claims which have befallen the Westlands-based joint.
The club said the probe would see a review of Saturday night’s events, where a bouncer was videotaped purportedly sending a Black patron out of the queue which appeared to only have non-Blacks, to determine if the guests in question were denied entry and if there was a policy in place to have separate lines for guests.
Nairobi Governor Anne Kananu on Tuesday morning (31.05.2022) announced that the club’s trading license was suspended over the claims and noise pollution.
Kananu’s director of communications, Jacob Elkana, said that Kananu had directed a probe of the reported incidents and a comprehensive report to be tabled in her office within five working days.
In August 2018, it came under fire after a customer identified as Cynthia claimed that a guard had refused her seating on grounds that the seats were only meant for White people and Kenyans of Asian descent.
