NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 6- Journalist from several media houses are nursing injuries after being attacked by bouncers attached to the Kettle House club in Westland’s Nairobi.
The journalists were embedded with the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) during a raid led by its CEO Anthony Omerikwa aimed at cracking down on shisha
”It was reported by Mr. Omerikwa, CEO NACADA and Mr. Kosgei (SP), head of enforcement NACADA that they were conducting a Shisha operation at Kettle house where the bouncers of the said club became violent and in the process members of the press (media) covering the incident were attacked and the following were injured,” read a report by the police in Kileleshwa in part.
Among the journalist injured in the melee include national broadcaster KBC’s Jane Kibira who was stabbed with a knife from back and Citizen TV’s Lawrence Tikolo. Others include Boniface Bogita (Nationl Media) as well as Bonface Okendo (Standard Media Group).
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NACADA says Police officers responded and were able to use necessary force and effected arrest of 21 persons who are currently in custody awaiting to be charged for various offenses.
Defense Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale had last month issued an order calling on police to crackdown on all shishas dens in the country.
December crackdown
The push by NACADA to end the use of shisha has recently been intensified. On 23 December 2023, NACADA conducted another crackdown in Kilimani Nairobi where they nabbed 117 shisha products.
The 23rd crackdown led to the arrest of 25 people involved in selling of the illegal substance. The operation targeted night clubs in Kilimani area. However, the December crackdown was conducted in conjunction with police officers contrary to Saturday’s crackdown.
Health effects of shisha
According to National Library of Medicine, Shisha smoking is known to causes oxidative stress, carbon monoxide poisoning as well as cancer due to presence of heavy metals in the smoke.
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Kenya banned the use of shisha in 2017. The ban sought to completely stop the use, manufacture, importation, sale, advertising or promotion of the shisha. Other countries which has banned the use of shisha in East Africa includes Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda.
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