26 Arrested in a Raid on Bars in Kilimani

Night Raid on Club
An undated image of the Police raid in Nairobi Kileleshwa Bars
File

Police arrested 26 people on Saturday, October 1,  after a raid on five entertainment joints for allegedly causing noise pollution and selling banned Shisha in Nairobi's Kilimani area.

The operation was conducted by police in conjunction with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and Nairobi County officials, following complaints by residents over noise pollution and obstruction caused by customers frequenting the joints.

“We are having a problem with the loud music and parking, people park cars on the roads, for me to travel on Kilungu road it takes me One and half hours to reach home,” One of the residents stated

Kenya police officers during an opertaion.
Kenya police officers during a previous operation.
Kenyans.co.ke

Additionally, other residents also complained about how the loud music is causing sleepless nights among their children despite the area being a residential zone.

“My children can't sleep, I was here two days and I told them, there are specific county by-laws on how you convert a residential property into a commercial building and how then you convert that into a pub,” another resident stated

Among the entertainment joints that were targeted is Oyster Bar, where the manager and 14 operators were arrested. Police also confiscated 20 pots of shisha. 

Other joints that were raided include Onex Var, Bar Next Door, Club 909 and Kettle Bar where 11 people were arrested and 15 pots of Shisha were confiscated.

All the suspects were taken to Central Police Station and are expected to be arraigned at the City Court on Monday, October 3.

Kilelewshwa MCA Robert Alai has petitioned the Director of Liquor licensing to reign on 15 Entertainment establishments which is a nuisance through noise pollution, drug peddling and other social vices.

However, cases of Shisha usage have also increased in the Country despite the substance receiving a ban in 2017 after Kenya joined Tanzania and Rwanda, becoming the third country in Africa to ban shisha.

On 28 November 2014, the Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, announced the ban on the import, distribution and sale of shisha.

However, in 2017, Kenya implemented a comprehensive ban on shisha, including the use, import, manufacture, sale, the offer of sale, advertising, promotion, distribution and encouraging or facilitating its use.

Those who break the rules can face a fine not exceeding Sh50,000 or imprisonment for not more than 6 months.

Recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) in an advisory note to regulators revealed that smoking shisha posed grave health risks as shisha smokers in a single session would inhale the smoke of 100 or more cigarettes.

Kileleshwa MCA -Robert Alai.
Kileleshwa MCA - Robert Alai.
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Robert Alai

 

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