Shisha Banned in Kenya, Government Announces Crackdown

The Kenyan government has implemented a nationwide ban on Shisha, effective immediately.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki declared the importation, production, sale, and use of Shisha illegal. The ban also extends to advertising, promotion, and distribution of the product. Kindiki emphasized that any establishments found in violation of these regulations will be swiftly shut down. He directed County Security Teams to ensure strict enforcement of the ban throughout the country.

This directive follows a period of heightened activity by the National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA) in targeting establishments selling and consuming Shisha. As part of their efforts to curb this activity, NACADA officials, acting on a tip, conducted a raid on a restaurant in Nairobi's Kilimani estate on Sunday. Four individuals, including the restaurant manager, sellers, and a storekeeper, were apprehended on suspicion of involvement in the Shisha trade.

Furthermore, the Interior CS emphasized that all tobacco products within the country must comply with labelling and packaging regulations outlined in the Tobacco Control Act (2007) and its accompanying regulations (2014). Any products failing to meet these standards will be removed from the market. The government's decisive action aims to address public health concerns associated with Shisha use and uphold established regulations governing tobacco products in Kenya.

Research from the World Health Organization highlights the alarming volume of smoke inhaled during a typical shisha session. Inhaling for an hour is equivalent to inhaling smoke from 100 to 200 cigarettes, due to the larger volume of smoke inhaled per puff compared to cigarettes. This increased smoke intake exposes users to a greater concentration of harmful toxins, including tar, a known carcinogen linked to lung, oral, and oesophagal cancers.

Furthermore, shisha smoking poses a distinct threat to cardiovascular health. The burning of tobacco, charcoal, or coal generates tar, which not only increases cancer risk but also contributes to heart disease. This aligns with the worrying statistic from Nacada, which suggests that smokers lose an average of 15 years of their lives due to the detrimental effects of smoking. Beyond the individual health risks, sharing shisha mouthpieces presents a significant danger of infectious disease transmission. While some establishments may offer individual mouthpieces, their consistent use throughout a session, especially under the influence of intoxication, is often neglected.

This poses a serious risk of spreading illnesses like hepatitis and tuberculosis. The harsh reality is that tobacco use, including shisha smoking, claims the lives of half of its long-term users. As Kenya's economic landscape evolves, the increase in disposable income creates a growing concern. More individuals are indulging in "luxuries" like shisha, potentially leading to an increase in tobacco-related deaths. This concern is further amplified by the findings of the 2014 Global Adult Tobacco Survey-Kenya, which indicates that approximately 2.5 million Kenyan adults use tobacco products.

While the majority of users initiate the habit between the ages of 20 and 24, the alarming trend of teenagers adopting shisha and cigar smoking necessitates immediate intervention to prevent these numbers from escalating.