Nairobi County Chief Officer for Environment Geoffrey Mosiria has called for the annual Summer Tides festival in Malindi to be banned following the circulation of viral videos and photographs allegedly showing revellers engaging in indecent acts in public.

The footage, widely shared on social media after the three-day beach event, has triggered public debate over safety, public decency and accountability at large entertainment gatherings. While the clips have attracted widespread attention online, authorities have not independently verified all the content or confirmed that every incident occurred during the festival.

In a statement shared on his social media platforms, Mosiria urged national authorities to investigate the incident and take action if the allegations are substantiated.

“I strongly condemn the disturbing and immoral acts allegedly witnessed during the Summer Tides event in Malindi. If these reports are true, then this event has no place in our society and should be banned immediately,” Mosiria said.

He argued that entertainment events should not become platforms for conduct that violates public decency, adding that organisers have a responsibility to ensure attendees comply with the law throughout such gatherings.

“The organisers must be held accountable for what happens under their watch. Freedom to enjoy oneself should never be confused with lawlessness or public indecency,” he added.

Mosiria also appealed to parents and guardians to play a more active role in monitoring the activities of young people attending large public events.

“As parents and guardians, we must know where our children are, who they are with and what kind of events they attend. Protecting our youth is a shared responsibility,” he said.

The remarks came days after the conclusion of the 2026 Summer Tides festival, an annual beach entertainment event held at Lost Beach Club in Malindi. The festival has grown into one of Kenya’s most popular coastal events, attracting thousands of attendees from across the country for music performances, beach parties and live entertainment.

This year’s edition, held between July 2 and July 4, generated significant attention online after videos and images emerged appearing to show participants engaging in explicit sexual activity and other conduct deemed inappropriate in public spaces. The authenticity and full context of some of the footage remain unverified.

As of Monday, no law enforcement agency had confirmed whether investigations had established that the incidents occurred as portrayed in the circulating videos. Similarly, no government agency had announced plans to ban the festival or revoke its operating approvals.

Summer Tides organisers had also not publicly responded to Mosiria’s remarks or addressed the allegations at the time of publication.

The controversy has renewed debate over the regulation of large-scale entertainment events in Kenya, with some members of the public calling for stricter oversight to safeguard public order while others have urged authorities to base any enforcement action on verified evidence rather than social media claims.

For now, the future of the festival remains uncertain as attention shifts to whether relevant authorities will investigate the allegations and determine whether any laws were violated during the event.