30/06/2026
Despite a 2017 ban, sh**ha continues to be sold and consumed in Kenya. It’s no longer just to***co. Today, we are fighting herbal and flavored waterpipe products that are marketed as "safe", a dangerous lie. These products release toxic emissions and carcinogens when burned, and the communal sharing of mouthpieces spreads diseases like TB .
This is why KETCA joined the Ministry of Health, Kenya public participation drive on the Public Health (Prohibition of Sh**ha Smoking and Waterpipe To***co Products) Rules, 2026.
Alarming data shows that children are starting to use ni****ne pouches and sh**ha products, and the latest research reveals that 6.2% of Kenyan youth have already tried sh**ha, drawn in by fruit flavors and the misconception that it is safer than ci******es .
In partnership with Amref Health Africa through the Youth-Led To***co Control Advocacy Project Y-ACT Youth In Action, our youth coalition members have been engaging in public meetings in some counties last week . We showed up not just to oppose an industry, but to propose solutions.
Our Memorandum to the Ministry focused on closing the loopholes:
1. Expand the Definition: The new rules must cover "herbal" sh**ha and gel formulations, not just to***co. The health harm comes from the charcoal and the smoke, not just the ni****ne .
2. Define "Waterpipe Apparatus": To fully enforce this ban, health officers must have the legal authority to seize the physical devices (the bowls, hoses, and bases). You can’t ban the practice without banning the tool .
3. Remove "Knowingly": It was a high legal threshold. We proposed that owners are strictly liable if sh**ha is found on their premises .
4. Night Raids: Enforcement must happen at night when sh**ha is smoked in clubs, not just during 9-5 office hours .
5. End the Misleading Labels: We called for a ban on accessories and packaging that use terms like "chemical-free" or "natural" to mislead consumers about health risks .
6. Unified Enforcement: We advocated for a coordinated enforcement framework involving the National Police, KRA(KENYA REVENUE AUTHORITY) , and NACADA to stop the illicit trade at its source .
We are doing this because 12,000 Kenyans die annually from to***co-related diseases . We are doing this because the industry is targeting our children, and we refuse to let the next generation become their customers.
We thank the Ministry of Health for this process. The fight continues until Sh**ha is fully eradicated from Kenya.
**haBan2026
