In the last few years, Nairobi has seen a rise in the amount of women-only spaces and events. From Strictly Silk to The Whine Down, women, non-binary and gender-non-conforming (GNC) people in Nairobi are being presented with new and exciting opportunities to enjoy the city’s nightlife without fear. 

Enjoying a night out in Nairobi as someone identifying as anything other than a cis-gender man, is a taxing ordeal. Worrying about what you can wear, who you can be with, what you’re allowed to say and to whom, all for fear of your safety, often has such marginalized groups wondering if it’s worth the risk. More often than not, it really isn’t. According to a study done by the charity Plan International in 2018, Nairobi is ranked 6th out of 22 cities for being the least safe for women across the globe. This of course puts women, non-binary and GNC people at the great disadvantage of experiencing harassment or sexual assault while clubbing.

Founded in 2018, as a product of The Nest, Strictly Silk has been diligently and successfully changing this narrative. Originally brought to life by The Nest’s very own Njeri Gitungo and Akati Khasiani, Strictly Silk was created with the intention of validating the work of the powerful and dedicated women of The Nest, as well as fostering an environment for women and non-binary people to fully experience and celebrate their diversity in the safety and comfort of others that look like them. 

An equally groundbreaking and exciting event taking place in Nairobi is The Whine down. The Whine Down has come together in a similar fashion just this year. Its founders created an event for women and non-male identifying folk to be able to curate a safe space to “dance, and release”. Experiencing life and having fun should not come at the expense of your safety, and having attended the July 2022, 4th edition of The Whine Down myself, I can with first hand experience agree that they are absolutely necessary. 

At any point on a night out, I’ve felt fearful of whether I was safe, my friends were safe, and even a random girl I noticed on the dancefloor. The Whine Down was the complete opposite of this. I felt fully seen, acknowledged and protected by everyone from the moment I entered to the moment I left. Being surrounded by people who you know just want to have the same experience as yourself is incredibly comforting and I fully appreciated that feeling the whole night. 

I had a chance to speak to other attendees and the sentiment of comfortability and community echoed across experiences. “The environment made me feel safe in my skin as an androgynous person cause each and everyone was free and accepting from the security to everyone that went for the event” said Blessin, one the attendees. “The Whine Down felt like a community of people I had never met but I knew we cared for each other.” Khasai said, another attendee who made it to the event. 

When asked if these spaces, in themselves, are exclusionary because of their lack of men. The answer should be yes! For too long, women, non-binary and GNC folk have felt excluded from the fun, simply because of their biology. These clubs and events give these folks a chance to experience and fully enjoy life. And we hope to see more of it!