Nairobi’s CBD is once again at the centre of a heated online debate after a viral clip showed a young woman pole-dancing on a street pole in broad daylight. The footage, which quickly made rounds on social media, has elicited mixed reactions, ranging from humour to shock, but one public official has stepped forward to call for stricter measures.
In a strongly worded statement shared online, Geoffrey Mosiria expressed deep concern over what he termed as a rising trend of “public indecency” in the city centre. According to him, he has received numerous messages from residents alarmed by the increasingly bold performances taking place in busy streets.
Mosiria said he usually prefers to mind his own business, but felt compelled to speak up after receiving nearly 80 messages from Nairobians urging him not to “interfere with the hustle” of the performer. He said that though everyone had a right to earn a living, some activities should not be carried out in open public spaces-especially around areas children frequent.
He added that the CBD has become unpredictable, describing the situation as one that needs urgent attention before it escalates further. After advice from various stakeholders, he said such performances should not be allowed to continue, noting they “promote immorality indirectly.”
Mosiria went ahead to caution that if nothing is done, worse behaviours may soon flood the city centre. His comments have since elicited heated debate online, with a section agreeing that moral standards need to be guarded in the CBD, while others think the performer is just trying to eke out a living in bad economic times.
