Theme night gone wrong: Nakuru nightclub slammed over skimpy schoolgirl video

A popular Nakuru nightclub has come under fire after posting a promotional video of its female staff dancing in skimpy school uniforms.

Space Next Door shared the 35-second clip on its Instagram and TikTok pages, featuring the women dancing to 'Kum Baba', a hit song by the Kenyan rap crew Wakadinali.

They can be seen dressed in school sweaters, blouses, and revealing checked skirts as they smile and playfully jig at the camera.

What was apparently meant to be light-hearted promotional material quickly backfired, drawing widespread backlash from Kenyans online; many accused the club of normalizing child indecency and sexualizing students by using uniforms as costumes.

Many also questioned the timing of the costumes, given that schools are currently on recess, and saw it as a sly attempt by the nightclub to snare impressionable high-schoolers.

Social media user Lorah Mugambi wrote: “Lakini pia sisi ladies, we're our own enemies. I’m seeing five sane ladies, dancing happily in uniform, yaani none of them thought ‘this is wrong?’”

Eve Smiley added: “The fact that nobody saw anything wrong with this... Someone came up with the idea, someone approved, funds were allocated, uniforms tailored to be that short. Too long a process for just one person to say NO THIS AIN’T RIGHT.”

Charles Mwangi also reacted, saying, "Schools are currently closed. Is this a desperate attempt by Space Club to attract highschoolers? I understand the art of cosplaying but there should be limits!"

Someone else wrote, "So nightclubs are also into role playing nowadays? Isn't this meant to be a private bedroom affair? And even if that were the case, why would an adult role play as a teenager in school uniform? This is unsettling."

Following the condemnation, Space Next Door released a statement in defence of their actions, saying they host creative theme nights in celebration of various careers and professions and that the idea has always been to create fun and celebrate different backgrounds.

"We would like to clarify that at no point do we promote or endorse any of the claims being associated with this video. We recognize that the timing of its release was unfortunate given the current situation in the country," part of the statement read.

"We therefore wish to emphasize that Space Next Door does not, in any way, encourage or promote the negative interpretations being made. As part of our themed nights, Space Next Door incorporates creative concepts that connect with the society and celebrate different professions and careers.”

The club, nevertheless, went on to apologise for the “negative misinterpretation” the provocative video caused, adding that they would strive to maintain “professionalism, creativity and community connection” moving forward. 

“Our sole intention has always been to create fun, engaging, and respectful experiences while highlighting everyday roles in a positive and entertaining light,” the statement read.