Shisha Crackdown: NACADA Raid 2 Nightclubs In Nairobi's Eastlands, Including Quiver

Officers from the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) took their crackdown on shisha consumption in Kenya to Nairobi's Eastlands area on Saturday night, March 2.

The Authority carried out its latest night crackdown when its enforcement team visited Quiver Eastlands, part of the popular nightclub branches located in Nairobi, Kajiado and Murang'a Counties.

There, the officers seized 18 shisha bongs and assorted flavours as well as shisha preparation paraphernalia and arrested two people for selling shisha unlawfully.

A photo of Quiver Eastlands. /QUIVER EASTLANDS

"Last night the Authority carried out a shisha prohibition enforcement exercise and our enforcement team visited Quiver Eastlands where 18 shisha bongs and assorted flavours and shisha preparation paraphernalia were seized.

"Two individuals were also arrested for the offence of selling shisha in contravention of legal notice 292 of 2017," stated NACADA in part.

The Authority further confirmed that it extended the crackdown to Habanos Lounge, where 60 shisha bongs were seized and 126 pieces of assorted flavours, and assorted paraphernalia used in shisha preparation were confiscated.

"Seven people were arrested, including the manager, sellers, and users. All those arrested were detained at the Jogoo Road Police Station and will be having their day in court to be charged with various offences related to sections 3 and 4 of shisha rules," added the authority.

The Superintendent of Police and Head of Enforcement at NACADA, Nicholas Koskei, cautioned the public over the consumption of hard drugs under the guise of smoking shisha.

He also requested the public to participate in giving information to the police on clubs and private apartments offering the contraband.

The authority has been staging a series of crackdowns across the country in the fight against shisha consumption, to the point of making bold raids on nightclubs.

On Saturday, January 20, NACADA officers turned their attention to the popular Embassy Bistro nightclub along Thika Road next to Garden City Roundabout in Nairobi, causing a scene at the nightclub as a result of their raid which saw the manager of the club arrested.

Six other revellers believed to be consuming the illegal product were also arrested, with 23 shisha bongs and 40 flavours confiscated from the club.

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