The Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) has expressed concern after a video of an entertainment joint promoting alcohol in school uniform went viral.
In a statement issued on Monday, August 18, KEWOPA strongly condemned the use of school uniforms as costumes for advertisement within adult entertainment venues, describing the practice as socially unacceptable and unlawful.
"The Kenya Women Parliamentary Association expresses deep concern over the recent use of school uniforms as costumes for advertisement within adult entertainment venues," read the statement signed by KEWOPA Chairperson Hon. Leah Sankale.
The women parliamentarians cited Section 46 of the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act, 2010, read together with the Alcoholic Drinks Control (Promotions) Guidelines, which expressly prohibit advertisements that associate alcohol with minors or use school-related imagery.
"These laws directly discourage underage drinking and prevent the risk of sexualizing children," the MPs noted in their statement.
Read More
KEWOPA has called on several regulatory bodies to take immediate action, including the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB), and the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK), to enforce existing laws.
The MPs specifically noted that KFCB has a responsibility to regulate and restrict content that endangers children's welfare and normalizes harmful trends.
Law enforcement agencies have been urged to uphold public decency and enforce competitive practices. At the same time, the wider entertainment industry has been called upon to uphold responsible standards that protect children from sexual objectification.
"Local authorities need to exercise vigilance in monitoring entertainment establishments, and to revoke licenses for those that persist in practices that normalize sexualizing children's identities," the statement added.
The women MPs emphasized that while school uniforms may be used symbolically in educational contexts, there must be clear boundaries to prevent misappropriation that risks normalizing child sexual exploitation.
"Every child deserves protection and community leadership has a moral, ethical and legal responsibility against any practice that undermines the dignity of children," KEWOPA stated.
The association warned that normalizing such harmful imagery in adult spaces risks eroding the moral boundaries that serve to protect children.
"We remind Kenyans that sexual exploitation thrives when society turns a blind eye to harmful trends. What may appear as harmless fun is grooming society to tolerate sexualization of minors," the MPs cautioned.
In response to the controversy, the club issued a statement acknowledging the viral video and seeking to distance itself from negative interpretations.
"We would like to clarify that at no point do we promote or endorse any of the claims associated with this video," the establishment stated.
The club explained that their themed nights incorporate creative concepts connecting with various societal and professional roles, including uniforms such as nurses' scrubs, mechanics' gear, and chefs' attire.
They emphasized that their intention has always been to create fun, engaging experiences while highlighting everyday roles in a positive light, and apologized for any negative misinterpretation the video may have caused.
The entertainment joint has since received major backlash and condemnation from authorities, leaders, and people online, with many calling for strict enforcement of existing laws governing alcohol promotion and child protection in Kenya.
