NAIROBI, Kenya – The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) and the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) have spoken out against the violent incident at Kettle House Bar and Grill that left journalists and police officers injured.
NACADA Chairman Stephen Mairori condemned the violent response to the crackdown on illegal shisha activities, emphasizing that journalists and law enforcement officers have the legal right to carry out their duties without facing threats, intimidation, or violence. Mairori also announced that criminal charges against the offenders have commenced and they will be arraigned in court to answer to various charges related to the assault.
The Kenya Union of Journalists, represented by Secretary General Erick Oduor, underscored journalists’ right to serve society and called on law enforcement to take appropriate action in response to the incident.
The altercation occurred when officials targeted the establishment for allowing patrons to smoke shisha, a prohibited activity in Kenya. During the confrontation, journalists and police officers sustained injuries, with some having their equipment damaged. The journalists, accompanied by NACADA officials, sought to apprehend club managers and patrons for alleged shisha smoking when they were physically assaulted by the club’s bouncers and had their recording equipment confiscated. Notably, the injured individuals are reported to be in stable condition.
The Kettle House Bar and Grill had previously faced complaints from neighbors about loud music, prompting action during the recent shisha raid. NACADA officials led the operation, resulting in several arrests and the recovery of shisha pots. Shisha has been banned in Kenya since 2017, with penalties including fines starting at Ksh 50,000 or a minimum jail term of six months. A knife suspected to have been used in the stabbings was recovered during the operation, leading to the arrest of 21 individuals.