Former Nacada chair John Mututho during a past media briefing. [Photo: KTN/ twitter.com]
The government has been urged to ban shisha use in the country following revelations that a large number of youths are addicted to smoking it.
According to former National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (Nacada) chair John Mututho, a study conducted by the University of Nairobi (UoN) found out that shisha samples collected from various towns in the country contained traces of opiates.
"Little is known about the composition of shisha consumed locally, especially the possibility of being adulterated with prohibited substances like cannabis and heroin," said Mututho as quoted by the Star.
The former lawmaker said it was time the country emulated Rwanda which banned the use, advertisement, and import of shisha.
Mututho said shisha is 'addictive, dangerous and damaging to human lives’.
He further called for public education on the effects of the drug, noting that a majority of youth were engaging in its use without knowing the dangers they are exposing themselves to.
"For the case of shisha, its use is biased towards major towns like Nairobi, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu, Mombasa, Kilifi, and Malindi," said the former Naivasha MP.