National Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA) officials, in collaboration with police personnel from Nairobi’s Eastlands area, conducted a targeted operation on Saturday, March 2, at Quiver Eastlands club situated along Kangudo Road.
In a statement released on Sunday, NACADA confirmed the successful confiscation of 18 shisha bongs and various flavors from the club, as part of their ongoing efforts to enforce the ban on shisha smoking.
Simultaneously, the involved police officers apprehended two individuals for the violation of legal notice 292 of 2017, specifically for selling shisha.
“The Authority conducted a shisha prohibition enforcement exercise last night, visiting Quiver Eastlands where our enforcement team seized 18 shisha bongs, assorted flavors, and shisha preparation paraphernalia,” the official statement explained.
This operation unfolded on a Saturday night, typically a time when city nightclubs are at their peak. The seized shisha equipment was retained by the police officers as evidence.
Later that night, acting on intelligence, NACADA targeted Habanos Lounge in Nairobi’s Muthaiga area, seizing 60 shisha bongs, 126 assorted flavor pieces, and various shisha preparation paraphernalia in a raid around 1 am on Sunday.
Seven individuals, including the manager, sellers, and users, were apprehended at Habanos and are currently detained at Jogoo Road Police Station. They will face charges related to sections 3 and 4 of shisha regulations in court.
According to the operation’s lead officer, NACADA is extending its efforts to address the emerging trend of shisha consumption shifting from public places to private apartments.
Post-operation, the officer cautioned the public against using shisha pots, highlighting their potential use as a cover for smoking illicit substances, such as marijuana.
“Shisha smoking has transitioned from clubs or lounges to apartments, so we urge the public to share information promptly. Government agencies will take decisive action against drug abuse,” the officer emphasized.
These arrests contribute to a series of similar incidents in nightclubs across Nairobi and other towns in Kenya. In 2018, the Kenyan government, guided by the World Health Organization’s findings on the severe health risks associated with shisha smoking, banned its consumption nationwide.
