Seven suspects were arrested during a raid at the Embassy club along Thika Road in Nairobi on Saturday, January 20, 24.
In a statement on Monday, the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) said the operation was part of its routine crackdowns on shisha dens in the city.
The club manager and six revellers were arrested during the operation.
"On the night of Saturday 20th January, 2024 the Authority carried out its routine shisha crackdowns on shisha vending and smoking in various entertainment spots across Nairobi City County. At the Embassy club along Thika Road, the Club Manager and six (6) other revellers were arrested in contravention of the shisha-selling and smoking ban," NACADA said.
During the operation, 23 shisha bongs and 40 flavours were confiscated from the club.
The arrested suspects were booked at Jogoo Road Police Station awaiting arraignment in court.
NACADA has heightened a crackdown on shisha dens in the country in recent months with some of the operations facing resistance from club owners.
On Friday, January 5, several journalists were injured after an attack during an impromptu shisha raid at Kettle House Club in Lavington, Nairobi.
The scribes and some NACADA officers were attacked by both bouncers and revellers as they covered the raid led by Nacada Chief Executive Officer Antony Omerikwa and Head of Enforcement Nicholas Kosgei at around 11:00 pm.
The bouncers attacked the victims with knives before forcefully seizing some of their recording equipment.
At least 21 suspects were arrested in connection with the incident.
"Some few officers were injured in the process and we managed to identify the attackers. They are in our custody to face charges of assaulting officers while on duty," police noted.
The wounded journalists were taken to a city hospital for medical attention.
Shisha ban
The Kenyan government announced a ban on shisha in 2017 due to the health risks associated with the use of the substance.
The ban restricts use, import, manufacture, sale, advertising, distribution and encouraging or facilitating the use of the substance.
Contravening the law, the government said, would attract a “fine not exceeding Ksh50,000, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or both.”
However, the use of the substance is still ongoing in most parts of the country, especially in major towns.
