The long weekend is here wangwana, and kama kawaida, we all know what that means; time to shake off the week's stress and dive into the madness of the nightlife.

First stop? The night clubs, of course. Because let’s be honest these golden weekends don’t come often, and when they do, we make them count.

And in true Kenyan fashion, everyone is out and about. I mean, sisi sio vikombe za wageni ati tukae kwa cupboard. We must be seen!

But here’s the twist; sometimes, we don’t want to be seen… at least not by certain people.

In Nakuru’s club scene, it’s almost guaranteed you’ll bump into a familiar face. Maybe it’s your cousin’s friend, your gym instructor, or that colleague who never minds their own business.

And sometimes, that can get awkward.

Brian Nderitu, a self-proclaimed party regular, says one night, he decided to ditch his usual corporate look and go all out. He and his crew had a prime spot right in view of the DJ, good vibes only.

“I was dancing, enjoying my drink, when I saw someone a few tables over. At first, I thought my eyes were deceiving me,” Brian recalls. “But when I looked again, my heart sank. It was my colleague. You know the type—the office gossip. The last person you want to see when you're out tryna let loose.”

Brian shifted tables immediately, no eye contact, no greetings, nothing. Since that night, he’s stuck to one golden rule: if he spots someone familiar at the club, he avoids them completely.

“People think I’m being rude, but I’m not. I’m just protecting my peace. The club is my escape not a networking event,” he insists.

Jack Kamau gets it but plays it a little cooler. “For me, it depends. If it’s someone I vibe with, I’ll say hello, maybe even share a drink. But if it’s someone I’d rather avoid? I find a whole different corner of the club,” Jack says.

He adds that on game nights, the rules change, and he gets to hang out with anyone for hype and banter.

“There’s just something about cheering for your team with people you know. The high-fives, the shouts, the friendly beef make the night better,” he says with a laugh.

Leah Njeri is the queen of keeping her distance. She won’t initiate any greetings and only responds if spoken to and even then, she keeps it brief.

“If I didn’t invite you out, I’m not trying to hang with you,” she says flatly. “If you say hi, I’ll nod or wave, but that’s it. No long stories.”

Leah says if she sees someone she knows in the club, especially if they’re with company, she lets them be. No greetings, just a silent acknowledgment before moving on.

Mercy Chebet, for instance, sees clubs as a great networking ground, noting that she has no problem saying hello or even joining someone’s table. She sees it as an opportunity.

“You meet people in formal settings all the time. But at the club? That’s when you see their real vibe,” she says. “I’ve formed solid friendships just from saying hello and sharing a table.”

For Mercy, familiar faces bring comfort and safety. “You know who’s around you, and there’s less stress. It actually makes the night feel more secure.”

So, whether you’re ducking familiar faces like a ninja, vibing with friends, or using the night to build new bonds, just make sure of one thing: you have fun, live loud, and enjoy every second of the weekend.

Happy Long Weekend, Wadau!

Nakuru night life: Do we greet or ghost a familiar face when clubbing?

Author Spotlight

Muthoni Wanjiku