Enforcement officers from the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) raided a popular establishment in Nairobi on the night of Wednesday, February 26, 2025, as part of their crackdown on shisha dens.
In a statement released on Thursday, February 27, NACADA announced the arrest of two individuals at Paris Lounge in Lang’ata, along with the confiscation of a large quantity of shisha products.
“The two were arrested on Wednesday night after NACADA’s enforcement officers raided Paris Lounge in Lang’ata and seized a large consignment of shisha products,” the statement read in part.
During the raid, officers seized 39 shisha bongs, 11 cartons of charcoal, 12 cartons of assorted flavors, and 13 charcoal carriers. The individuals arrested included a shisha seller and a supervisor.
NACADA Makes Two Arrests at Paris Lounge Club and Seizes 39 Shisha Bongs
The operation was led by NACADA’s Director of Compliance and Enforcement, James Koskei, who stated that the raid was part of routine compliance checks targeting the illegal shisha trade in the city.
“NACADA is the body mandated to control alcohol and drug abuse in the country. We are here this evening on our normal routine compliance checks at this facility. We are specifically enforcing the shisha rules,” Koskei explained.
Koskei noted that the crackdown follows a ruling by the Court of Appeal that upheld Gazette Notice No. 292 of 2017, which bans the sale, promotion, and use of shisha in Kenya.
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The appellate court dismissed a petition challenging the ban, giving NACADA full legal authority to enforce the law.
“We all know that the shisha rules under Gazette Notice No. 292 of 2017 are in force. Our Court of Appeal in December successfully dismissed the petition against that particular Gazette Notice,” he added.
Government Announces Crackdown on Shisha Dens
This crackdown on shisha also coincides with the Kenyan government’s recent announcement of a nationwide campaign against the sale and consumption of shisha.
On January 24, 2025, Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni disclosed plans for an extensive operation to target improperly labeled products, especially those with misleading health claims.
Also Read: Ministry of Health Issues Update on Shisha Ban
Muthoni expressed concerns regarding the dangers of shisha, highlighting that both direct consumers and individuals exposed to secondhand smoke face significant health risks.
“Shisha consumption remains a major public health concern. We are in the final stages of establishing a multi-agency task force composed of health and security officials to spearhead a nationwide crackdown on the illegal trade,” she announced during a workshop in Murang’a.
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