• Nacada's Compliance and Enforcement officers acting on intelligence descended upon the restaurant in Kilimani, Nairobi where they apprehended four individuals.
•Among those detained were the manager, sellers, and a storekeeper linked to the establishment.
Image: Handout
Four more people were Sunday arrested in an operation aimed at curbing the sale and consumption of shisha products at a popular restaurant in Nairobi.
The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) staged the operation as part of a crackdown on establishments involved in the trade of shisha.
Nacada's Compliance and Enforcement officers acting on intelligence descended upon the restaurant in Kilimani, Nairobi where they apprehended four individuals allegedly involved in the sale and distribution of shisha products.
Among those detained were the manager, sellers, and a storekeeper linked to the establishment.
"These arrests mark a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to combat the scourge of shisha consumption, "Nacada boss Anthony Omerikwa said.
The authority said they are committed to dismantling the networks facilitating the sale and distribution of shisha, which poses significant health risks to the citizens.
The operation also resulted in the confiscation of a substantial quantity of shisha paraphernalia, including 46 shisha bongs, assorted flavoured tobacco, charcoal pipes, and a meticulous stock-taking counterbook used in inventory management.
The team had earlier arrested ten other people at two restaurants in the Eastlands area.
They were all expected in court to face charges. Nacada said they seized 78 shisha bongs and more than 200 assorted flavours.
The raid led to the seizure of 18 pots alongside assorted flavours at another joint in Eaastlands in Nairobi where two persons were also arrested.
Another 60 pots and 126 assorted flavours were confiscated from another joint along Kiambu Road.
Seven people were apprehended in the raid including the manager, sellers, and users.
Omerikwa said the operation will continue. Those arrested were detained ahead of arraignment.
Nacada has since December 2023 arrested more than 60 people in separate club raids in Nairobi and Mombasa.
Shisha smoking has been outlawed in Kenya since 2017 after the government banned the use, import, manufacture, distribution and promotion of tobacco products.
Kenya imposed a ban on shisha in 2017, including advertising, promoting, distributing and encouraging or facilitating its use.
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 Sh50,000 or a minimum jail term of six months.
Kenya joined neighbouring East African countries Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda in prohibiting the use of shisha.