A disagreement over rent forced The Manhattan, Bien’s Mombasa Road club, to close

Sauti Sol singer Bien Aime Baraza, along with other co-directors of The Manhattan, a bar and grill nightclub, have filed a lawsuit against the landlord following the club’s closure.

Situated on the first floor of Imaara Mall on Mombasa Road in Nairobi, the venue operated for a year and eight months before shutting down two weeks ago, branding itself as the cultural hub of Nairobi.

The club’s directors, including Bien, attribute the closure to unresolved issues with the landlord.

“Unfortunately, The Manhattan has been shuttered for the past two weeks due to circumstances we believe constitute breach of contract, intimidation, and harassment by our landlord, Tuffsteel Limited,” stated the directors in an April 5 release.

Despite efforts to reach a resolution, the directors claim that discussions with the landlord have been futile.

“Despite our attempts to resolve the matter through dialogue, mediation, and appeals, we have yet to reach a satisfactory conclusion. Consequently, we have opted to pursue legal action to safeguard our business interests, as well as the welfare of our employees, suppliers, and business associates. We trust in the judicial system to uphold justice,” the statement added.

The directors express optimism about reopening soon, assuring their patrons that the closure is merely temporary.

The nightclub, inaugurated in July 2022 amidst much fanfare and excitement, was a venture Bien undertook to establish a personal space where he could interact with his fans.

“I wanted a space where I could unwind and have fun. I realized my club outings had become transactional, and I craved a genuine connection with my fans. Hence, I decided to create a place where we could all enjoy ourselves,” explained Bien in an earlier interview.

The temporary closure of The Manhattan follows the recent shutdown of Whiskey Rivers, a renowned nightclub on Kiambu Road, after six years of operation, and the temporary closure and subsequent demolition of 1824, another popular nightclub in Langata, due to a dispute between the landlord and the owner.