2 Arrested In NACADA Night Raid On Popular Nairobi Club

Two people were arrested on Wednesday night, February 27 as the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) intensified its crackdown on illegal shisha dens.

The arrests took place at Paris Lounge in Lang’ata, Nairobi, where NACADA’s enforcement officers raided the establishment and seized a significant consignment of shisha products.

The operation, led by NACADA’s Director of Compliance and Enforcement, James Koskei, is part of an ongoing effort to enforce the country’s ban on shisha.

“NACADA is mandated to regulate alcohol and drug abuse in Kenya, and this operation is part of our routine compliance checks. We are here to ensure that the shisha ban is upheld,” Koskei stated.

NACADA officers seize shisha equipment on February 26, 2025. /PHOTO

According to NACADA in a statement, the crackdown follows a recent Court of Appeal ruling that upheld Gazette Notice No. 292 of 2017, which prohibits the sale, promotion, and use of shisha in Kenya. The ruling dismissed a petition challenging the ban, reinforcing NACADA’s authority to take action against illegal shisha businesses.

“We all know that the shisha regulations remain in force. In December, the Court of Appeal upheld the ban, giving NACADA full legal backing to enforce the law,” Koskei added.

During the raid, officers confiscated 39 shisha bongs, 11 cartons of charcoal, 12 cartons of assorted flavours, and 13 charcoal carriers. A shisha seller and a supervisor were taken into custody and are expected to face legal action.

NACADA has vowed to continue its nationwide crackdown to curb the illegal sale and use of shisha, warning that businesses found violating the ban will face stern action.

The operation comes days after the Ministry of Health reminded members of the public that the ban on Shisha remains in full effect, despite a court ruling that declared the ban unconstitutional. This prohibition, enacted in 2017 under the Public Health (Control of Shisha Smoking) Rules, outlaws the manufacture, importation, sale, and use of shisha in Kenya.

According to Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni, shisha smoking carries serious health risks, some of which led to the legality of shisha being contested in court.

Shisha is a type of flavoured tobacco smoke that is inhaled through a single or multi-stemmed device, which passes through water or another liquid before reaching the smoker.

PS Muthoni went on to affirm the commitment of the Health Ministry as well as other public entities to ensuring that the ban remains active and that all Kenyans must comply or face consequences.

Health PS Mary Muthoni speaking while chairing the National Taskforce on Mpox and Marburg Virus Disease on October 31, 2024. /MINISTRY OF HEALTH