The government has banned shisha smoking in Kenya with immediate effect
Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu on Thursday issued the directive in a special Kenya gazette notice.
“No person shall allow, promote, facilitate or encourage or do anything to allow, promote facilitate or encourage shisha in Kenya,” read part of the notice.
It added: “Any person who contravenes any provisions of these Rules may, where a penalty has not been expressly provided for under any provision of the Act, be liable to the penalty contemplated under section 163 of the Act.”
Further, the importation, distribution, sale and manufacture of shisha has also been prohibited.
Kenya becomes the third country in Africa to issue a ban on Shisha smoking after Rwanda and Tanzania.
Globally, countries such as Jordan, Sinagpore, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, shisha smoking is not allowed.
Shisha smoking is common among Kenyan youths. It comes in several flavours depending on which taste the smoker prefers.
The most common flavours are mint, fruit and rich creamy.
According to Wikipedia, Shisha is prepared by mixing tobacco with fruits, herbs and molasses.
It is then placed on a glass pot from where pipes are inserted and several people smoke it in one go.
The World Health Organization in an earlier report had warned that shisha smoking posed great health risks.