Nine suspects including a club manager were arrested during a shisha prohibition enforcement exercise at two popular entertainment joints in Nairobi on Saturday, March 3, 2024.
In a statement on Sunday, the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) said the suspects were arrested at Quiver Eastlands and Habanos Lounge within Muthaiga area. The operation was led by Nicholas Kosgei, the head of enforcement at NACADA.
Nicholas Kosgei, the head of enforcement at NACADA, said two of the suspects were arrested at Quiver Eastlands at around 10:00 pm, where the enforcement officers seized 18 shisha bongs and shisha preparation materials.
"Two individuals were also arrested for the offence of selling shisha in contravention of legal notice 292 of 2017," the statement read in part.
The team extended the crackdown to Habanos Lounge, where 60 shisha bongs, 126 pieces of assorted flavours, and assorted paraphernalia used in shisha preparation were confiscated.
"Seven people were arrested, including the manager, sellers, and users," NACADA added.
The suspects are being held at the Jogoo Road Police Station pending their arraignment in court.
NACADA has heightened a crackdown on shisha dens in the country in recent months.
On January 20, seven suspects were arrested during a raid at the Embassy club along Thika Road in Nairobi. The club manager was among the persons arrested during the night raid.
Some of the operations have been facing resistance from club owners. On 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.
