VVIP Rooftop Club, well known for its trendy videos of dancers having the time of their life has found itself in the middle of an untimely case that has left their name tarnished on social platforms and media stations.
This is after the brutal and untimely death of 17-year-old Wilberforce Kisia, a talented dancer and rising online influencer, who was allegedly beaten to death by security guards at the VVIP Rooftop Club in Nairobi.
Kisia, known for his electrifying dance moves and vibrant personality, had left home on Sunday with hopes of advancing his performing career. He never returned.
His family says they began to worry when he failed to check in by Monday morning, as promised. “The last time I saw him was Sunday. He said, ‘I’ll be back Monday morning.’ But by Tuesday, there was no word… nothing. They hadn’t posted him on their club social… That’s when I knew something was wrong,” recalled his brother, Kennedy Ambani.
For four agonizing days, the family desperately searched, combing through social media, contacting friends, and visiting clubs — but found no trace of him. Alarm bells truly rang when videos of Kisia were suddenly removed from the club’s social media platforms.
“I called the club cameraman. He just told me, ‘If it’s about Kisia, go ask the management,’” Ambani added, his voice heavy with frustration and disbelief.
Witness testimonies would later paint a harrowing picture. According to those present, a misunderstanding between Kisia and the club’s security staff escalated into violence. Witnesses allege he was grabbed by one bouncer, handed over to another, and violently strangled. He was reportedly dragged into a back room and left unattended — and unseen — until his lifeless body was discovered almost 24 hours later.
“He was dancing on the stairs when one bouncer grabbed him and handed him to another. That one held him by the neck. That’s the last they saw him,” explained his brother, Vincent Mudoga.
A post-mortem examination conducted on Tuesday confirmed the family’s worst fears: Kisia died from prolonged physical assault, including injuries caused by a blunt object. His body showed signs consistent with a sustained and violent beating.
Two security guards have since been arrested in connection with the killing and are currently in police custody. They are expected to be arraigned in court on May 21, 2025.
For Kisia’s mother, Joyce Kavai, the grief is unbearable. “They killed my child… my baby. I keep asking why. Why did they kill him? But no one tells me anything,” she said, holding back tears.
Beyond the heartbreaking loss, the family is demanding answers from the club’s management — not only about the murder but about how a minor was allowed to work in such a venue in the first place.
“I haven’t received justice. And I want it. I won’t accept that my son died like an animal. I can’t even look at his pictures — they hurt too much,” Kavai said.
The case has sparked public outrage and renewed scrutiny over the treatment of young creatives and minors in nightlife venues, as well as the accountability of private security personnel in entertainment establishments.
A similar incident occurred on February 19, 2025, when the Mass House Club at Ngong Racecourse in Nairobi faced public outrage following the death of a Strathmore University student who was allegedly assaulted by club security guards.
According to the victim’s brother, the student’s body was found on the stairs. A police report later confirmed that he had been killed.
In response, Mass House issued a statement saying:
“Although we are unable to share detailed information regarding the incident, we at Mass House are fully cooperating with the relevant authorities in their ongoing investigation to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragedy.”
These cases do not stand alone as there have been multiple similar circumstances causing the public to call for justice and that measures should be put in place to prevent such occurrences from happening again. As for now kenyans are left to sympathise and worry about the saddening and terrifying nature of Nairobi nightlife.
As investigations continue, Kisia’s family is left with memories, grief, and a burning question — how could this have happened?
If you have any information related to this incident, authorities urge you to come forward as the investigation remains active.
By Kelly Were
