25 Arrested As NACADA, Police Raid Shisha Joint In Nairobi

The officers had seized 117 shisha substances, out of which, 100 were shisha bongs registered under different names.

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Dec 23, 2023 - 14:09
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25 Arrested As NACADA, Police Raid Shisha Joint In Nairobi
Image of a shisha bong. /CAPITAL GROUP

Police on Friday, December 22 arrested 25 people during a crackdown mounted on a shisha joint in Nairobi's upmarket Kilimani estate.

The operation was spearheaded by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) alongside the National Police Service (NPS).

NACADA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Anthony Omerikwa led the operation on behalf of the authority which saw the officers surround Yejoka Gardens in Kilimani, a popular spot for Shisha users in the capital city.

The officers had seized 117 shisha substances, out of which, 100 were shisha bongs registered under different names.

Shisha bongs in Kenya. /FILE

Omerikwa, who spoke to the media, affirmed that shisha was outlawed in 2017 by the government, but lamented the continuous and prevalent use in the country.

"The law is very clear we know what is legal and what is not legal. In 2017, the government had a ban on Shisha, and the sale, the use was banned, but here we have over 100 shisha bongs...in a residential area and it is causing pollution.

"This thing has permeated our society so much. It is affecting our children. It is affecting the masses in the country and productivity," he said.

Investigations were launched to determine if the establishment operated with the necessary licenses.

“Our team and multi-agency will continue with the investigations to get to the bottom of it, we are trying to look if this place is licensed, whether they have a public license and also if public health come here to see if it is in the right shape” he added.

Defending the timing of the operation, Omerikwa cited the link between increased substance abuse during Christmas and the correlation between drunk driving and accidents. 

“One of the key aspects is that many young people get inducted into drug and substance abuse during Christmas. Secondly, there is a big correlation between drunk driving and accidents in our country and it is a very good starting point for this crackdown,” stated the NACADA boss.

Shisha smoking, also known as water pipe, hookah, or hubble-bubble, was outlawed in Kenya in 2017.

The comprehensive ban covered the use, import, manufacture, sale, promotion, and distribution of the product. Offenders face fines starting at Ksh50,000 or a minimum jail term of six months.

"Any person who contravenes any provision of these regulations may, where a penalty is not expressly provided for in any provision of the Act, be liable to the penalty provided for in section 163 of the Act," the government said at the time.

At the time, health experts concurred with the directive arguing that the drug is addictive, dangerous and damaging to human lives.

The raid came after Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki allowed NACADA to enforce the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act (ADCA), 2010, as well as the NACADA Act, 2012 in its crackdown on alcohol abuse in Kenya.

With this new development, in line with section 51 of the ADCA, 2010, NACADA’s Authorised officers may, at any reasonable time, enter any place in which they believe on reasonable grounds that any person or persons are in any way contravening the provisions of the law.

In simple terms, NACADA's officers may be allowed to raid houses or businesses while in operation at any given time.

NACADA CEO, Anthony Omerikwa speaking on November 29, 2023. /NACADA KENYA

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