CS Mailu defends Shisha ban, here's why

Health Cabinet Secretary Dr.Cleopa Mailu speaking on Monday 8 December defended his directive to ban Shisha in Kenya. He was speaking in response to the case contesting the ban where he explained that his action is informed by the resolve to protect the public from harmful effects and practices associated with shisha consumption.

Mailu, who insisted that his directive is not in bad faith or unreasonable as alleged by the petitioners, asked the court to dismiss the case challenging shisha ban giving reasons for his decision.

Shisha in 2007 Tobacco Act is defined as an oriental tobacco pipe with a flexible tube connected to a container where smoke is burnt then cooled by passing through water or other liquid. The Act allows for use of tobacco products in secluded or specified places but does not ban shisha.

The ban, which came on December 28 did not sit well with a section of the public with interested parties moving to court seeking it to be lifted. These parties include and are not limited to importers, manufacturers, sellers, promoters or users of shisha.

Fifteen individuals including Mr. Kennedy Amdany Langat, Mr. Maurice Obunga, Mr. Stephen Irungu, Ms. Vivian Shikweya, Mr. Henry Gitau and others moved to court seeking orders to lift the ban.

They claimed that while imposing the ban, Mailu failed to state which diseases could be acquired or transmitted through shisha consumption.

According to the Director of medical services, Dr. Jackson Kioko says that shisha affects all parts of the human body particularly the vital organs such as brain, lungs, heart attacks and blockage of arteries

In a responding affidavit, the CS gave the following reasons that prompted the ban;

Shisha encourages drug use

Mailu stated that consumption of the product in Kenya is a gateway to consumption and peddling of other hard drugs such as heroin.

High levels of carbon monoxide

He added that the charcoal used to burn shisha during consumption session produced carbon monoxide and carcinogens which are agents of cancer which in turn affects the health of users.

World Health Organization (WHO)

The CS said that reports by WHO indicate that Shisha smoking is highly addictive as it contains high levels of Nicotine, a stimulant.

Transmission of TB

According to the CS, sharing of the hooker and the mouthpiece during Shisha smoking poses a health danger as partakers are exposed to communicable diseases.

Passive smoking

Smoking Shish affects those who are close to smokers as the smoke is released into the air. This, therefore, means that people staying next to Shisha smokers are exposed to health risks too.