Love Island Season Finale Watch Party: How It Went Down In Nairobi

This past Friday, I got an invite I couldn’t say no to — a Love Island Season Finale watch party at Social House Nairobi, powered by Gordon’s. The event promised good vibes, good people, and even better cocktails… and spoiler alert: it delivered all three and more.

Now, I won’t lie — I arrived fashionably late (blame Nairobi traffic), about 30 minutes past 5PM. But as soon as I walked in, I was greeted with the warmest smile from Brenda, my friend who’d invited me. We caught up a little as sshe showed me around before she left to attend to other business at the venue. 

The scene? Intimate but buzzing — around 50 to 100 stylish, excited people scattered across the venue, drinks in hand and stories flowing. The aroma of Gordon’s cocktails filled the air — floral, fruity, minty — each flavor a perfect match for someone’s personality. I immediately grabbed a glass (or two) and mingled. 

At some point, I spotted none other than supermodel Jean Ojiro in the crowd. With my cocktail in hand (and courage borrowed from the gin - pun intended), I slid over and stole a moment for a quick chat and some photos. Now listen — this was my first time seeing Jean in real life; I’d only ever admired her from the glowing world of Instagram. And let me tell you Maina, her IG is a trailer— seeing her in person is the full movie.

She’s stunning — like, “accidentally spill your drink while staring” kind of stunning — and so tall I had to double-check if my feet were actually on the ground. I felt like I was auditioning for a role as her handbag. But she was so warm and down-to-earth, we clicked instantly.
Before the show started, the energy was electric. Groups were playing fun icebreaker games, others deep in convos about everything from content creation to who they were rooting for on Love Island. I ended up chatting with a few online influencers and some models, all vibing like we’d known each other for ages. The camera flashes, boomerangs, and Insta stories were in full swing.

Then, it was time for the main event — the Love Island USA Season 7 finale. We moved into the cozy viewing space, lights dimmed, volume up, emotions running high.

And listen — if you thought reality TV doesn’t hit in real life, you should’ve been there. The room gasped, laughed, and even shed a few tears as the drama unfolded. My personal favorite? Chris — that man held it down. The way he stood firm during his emotional breakup with Huda had the whole room talking. He didn’t beg, didn’t bargain — just calmly let her go and said, “I wasn't going to convince her.” That line hit.

The honesty, the growth, the dignity — chef’s kiss. You could tell he knew his worth and wasn’t about to compromise it. For me, that was the highlight of the episode. Some of us literally clapped. It was that deep.

After the finale wrapped, the skies opened up with a gentle drizzle — perfect movie-style timing. Instead of dashing off, I stuck around a bit longer, talking with a few familiar faces about our favorite moments and what we'd do if we were on the island (spoiler: I wouldn’t survive the drama).

By the time I left, I was walking out with a happy heart, a phone full of new contacts, and the sweet lingering taste of Gordon’s cocktails on my tongue.

Final thoughts?
This was more than just a watch party — it was a whole vibe. Shoutout to Gordon’s and The Kenya Collective for curating such an intimate, stylish, and unforgettable night. From the flawless cocktails to the flawless finale, I couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend my Friday evening.