4 interesting reasons Shisha was banned – Health CS Discloses
Why you will not smoke shisha in Kenya again
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In an affidavit, Mr Mailu gave reasons that prompted the ban which has irked a section of the public with interested parties moving to court seeking it to be lifted
Peddling of drugs
Dr Mailu told the court that shisha smoking had promoted peddling of illegal drugs in the country including heroin and cocaine.
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The Health minister argued that shisha is addictive and its consumption has been used to peddle hard drugs.
Charcoal used to burn shisha
He also mentioned that the charcoal used to burn shisha during consumption session produced carbon monoxide and carcinogens which are agents of cancer.
He added that apart from the smokers, those around during the smoking session can be affected by the harmful chemicals.
WHO report
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The CS further noted that shisha was a health risk and attached the World Health Organization (WHO) report which indicates that shisha use has accelerated the spread of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack and blockage of limb arteries, asthma and bronchitis.
Shisha pipes
He added that sharing of the shisha pipe could also lead to the transmission of TB and other infections.
Mailu who was responding to 15 petitioners seeking the court to lift the ban reiterated that the ban was not in bad faith.
“The ban is purely driven by public health interest which is the golden thread that runs through all the laws cited,” he said.
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However, the petitioners argue that the shisha ban was unfair noting that it is selective in the application of the law
The court is expected to give the ruling on January 15.
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