Two arrested, shisha products seized as NACADA raids Paris Lounge in Lang’ata

During the operation led by NACADA’s Director of Compliance and Enforcement James Koskei at Paris Lounge in Lang’ata, the authority also seized a large consignment of shisha products.

The seized items included 39 shisha bongs, 11 cartons of charcoal, 12 cartons of assorted flavours, and 13 charcoal carriers. 

Koskei noted that the sting operation is part of routine compliance checks targeting 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 on this facility. We are coming here specifically to enforce the shisha rules," said Koskei.

Koskei said the crackdown follows a Court of Appeal ruling that upheld Gazette Notice No. 292 of 2017, which bans the sale, promotion, and use of shisha in Kenya. The appellate court dismissed a petition challenging the ban, giving NACADA full legal backing 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 managed to throw away the petition that had been filed against that particular Gazette Notice,” Koskei explained.