21 arrested as journalists among 8 injured during shisha raid at Nairobi's Kettle House club

Police have arrested 21 individuals in connection with a Saturday incident in which officials from the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), law enforcement agents and journalists were assaulted during a raid at Kettle House Bar and Grill in Lavington, Nairobi.

NACADA had conducted the sting operation to curb shisha smoking at the popular entertainment joint.

Shisha smoking has been outlawed in Kenya since 2017 after the State banned the use, import, manufacture, distribution and promotion of the tobacco product.

A police report documenting the incident says that during the operation, bouncers and revelers employed physical force to prevent NACADA officials, police and journalists from overseeing the operation.

"It was reported by Mr. Omerikwa, CEO NACADA  and Mr Kosgei(SP), head of enforcement NACADA that they were conducting a Shisha operation at Kettle house where the bouncers of the said club became violent and in the process members of the press covering the incident were attacked," reads the police report.

During the fracas, a NACADA driver, three police officers and four journalists were reportedly roughed up.

They are; Daniel Ousa (NACADA), PC Joel Nyaga, PC Bonface Mutisya, CPL Joseph Rutto, Jane Kibira (KBC), Lawrence Tikolo (Citizen TV), Bonface Okendo (Standard) and Boniface Bogita (Nation).

The NACADA driver, Okendo and the three policemen were reportedly subjected to physical assault while Kibira was allegedly stabbed in the back.

Tikolo sustained rib injuries and damage to his camera equipment while Bogita lost his phone during the melee.

The suspects are currently being detained pending arraignment.

“Police officers responded and were able to use necessary force and effected the arrest of 21 persons who are currently in custody awaiting to be charged for various offenses,” the police report says.