Former NACADA board chairman John Mututho has termed the move by the government to ban the use of shisha as timely and long overdue.
A couple of days after he raised his concern over the use of the drug among the youths, Mututho was full of praise for the latest directive by the ministry of health.
The former Naivasha MP said Shisha had dangerous effects on the lives of those who consume it saying Rwanda had set the example of banning it totally.
“I welcome the decision by Health CS Cleopa Mailu to ban the importation, manufacture or sale of the drug whose consumption has been increasing in the country,” he said.
Addressing the press in Naivasha, Mututho said the onus was now to the police to ensure that the ban was implemented especially in urban cities and towns where the drug is commonly used.
He added that Kenya had good laws but the challenge was its application citing the alcoholic drinks control act that he said was not being followed.
“We make goods laws but no one implements them and a good example is how alcohol is being consumed in broad day light and even with minors,” he said.
He said that several studies conducted in various institutions including the University of Nairobi found out that Shisha had traces of Opiates that were ‘addictive, dangerous and damaging’ to human lives.
“Little is known about the composition of shisha consumed locally, especially the possibility of adulterated with prohibited substances, even less is known about what socio-economic or health effects shisha smoking in the country had,” he said.
-Anthony Gitonga