The Ministry of Health has issued a reminder to citizens to the effect that the ban on Shisha smoking, which was enacted in 2017, remains fully operational.
The ban, under the Public Health (Control of Shisha Smoking) Rules, prohibits the manufacture, importation, sale and use of Shisha across the country.
Section 163 of the Public Health Act enacted in 2017 stipulates that offenders may face a fine not exceeding Sh50,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or both.
“The Ministry of Health together with other government agencies remain committed to enforcing this ban and urges all Kenyans to comply,” MoH said in a statement.
“We also call on law enforcement agencies to strengthen surveillance and take action against those violating this law.”
The Ministry emphasised that prevention is better than cure, urging all Kenyans to prioritise their health and adhere to the regulations.
“We appeal to the public to prioritise their health and that of their loved ones. Prevention is better than cure- let us work together to keep Kenya safe and healthy,” MoH said.
“Let us work together to keep Kenya safe and healthy.”
Shisha, a flavoured tobacco smoked through a water pipe, has been linked to serious health risks, including respiratory diseases, heart conditions and exposure to toxic chemicals.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the smoke inhaled in a typical one-hour shisha smoking session is equal to inhaling smoke from as many as 100 sticks of cigarette.
MoH noted that these risks prompted the government to take decisive action, citing public health as the top priority.
Despite a legal challenge to the ban in 2018, both the High Court and the Court of Appeal upheld the prohibition.
In a recent ruling on December 23, 2024, the Court of Appeal once again affirmed the ban, with judges emphasising that public health must take precedence over commercial interests.
Back in 2017, Kenya became the fourth country in East Africa to prohibit shisha after Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda.
But even after the ban, shisha is still widely sold in the country, especially at upmarket nightclubs, and is popular among socialites and sportspersons.
