A shisha fan enjoying puffs. [Photo/OMG]
As the decision by the Health Ministry to ban Shisha in the country sinks in, a group of traders has moved to court to challenge the directive.
The group is accusing Health CS Cleopa Mailu of failing to consult them and other stakeholders before reaching the decision.
“There was no public participation in the decision that Mailu arrived on,” said one of the traders.
However, judge John Mativo declined to grant the orders and instead asked the petitioners to serve the respondents and appear before the court for hearing on January 4.
Earlier on, former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga through his twitter account expressed doubt whether CS Mailu involved other stakeholders.
NACADA, which handles issues dealing with drug abuse lauded the move, terming it as timely.
The authority is, however, calling for wider consultations to ensure all Kenyans are on board.
Kenyans have expressed mixed reactions after the ban, which came into effect after the Gazette was made on December 27.
The government cited health issues associated with the drug as the reason behind the banning.