Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni has directed restaurants, hotels, and markets across the country to set up designated smoking zones.
Speaking in Kirinyaga on Saturday, the PS further said that smokers should strictly use a smoking zone if they need to smoke in any social area.
The PS, however, assured that the government will continue its crackdown on other illegal drugs such as shisha and cannabis.
"Restaurants, hotels, and other social places, even the markets, must set up smoking zones, and when I say a smoking zone, it should be dedicated somewhere at the corner where someone can go and smoke. And if you really must smoke, you must use a designated smoking area," she stated.
Furthermore, Muthoni said that the government has kickstarted the construction of cessation centers across the country, especially in tobacco-growing counties, to help drug addicts.
According to Muthoni, the centers, which will be under the Social Health Authority(SHA), will have specialised doctors and other public health officers to ensure that the addicts are well taken care of.
"In the health ministry, we have started building cessation centers. A cessation center is a house that is near the hospital that is used to talk and bring people together and to show them the way. If you are addicted to something, especially nicotine products, we will ensure that doctors and public health officers in the centers will help you," she said.
Muthoni's directive comes days after the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), in a statement on Monday, March 10, blamed private spaces such as the Airbnbs for facilitating illegal trade and abuse of drugs among the youths.
According to the Authority, 23 percent of young adults aged between 18 and 24 have used drugs, with private venues contributing significantly to such cases.
“We are intensifying surveillance, awareness campaigns, and collaborations with the police, county governments, and the private sector to curb this emerging threat,” NACADA stated.
The authority called for immediate action from Airbnb hosts, stressing that they should prioritise screening guests to ensure that the premises are free from drugs.
NACADA further encouraged the hosts to report any suspicious activity in the spaces to the relevant authorities for further action.
“The enforcement pressure has forced individuals involved in the illegal drug trade to shift their activities to seemingly discreet locations such as Airbnbs, where they attempt to evade scrutiny,” NACADA stated.
