Nairobi, June 15 -- The Ministry of Health has proposed new shisha control rules that would extend regulation from consumption to the entire supply chain, signalling Kenya's toughest anti-waterpipe tobacco crackdown yet amid rising public health concerns.

The proposed Public Health (Control of Waterpipe Tobacco Products) Rules, 2026, target importation, manufacturing, distribution, sale, promotion, advertising and use of shisha products, significantly expanding the scope of a consumption ban imposed in 2017.

The move is set to sharply disrupt the informal shisha trade that has continued operating despite the earlier prohibition, while exposing offenders to substantially higher penalties and tighter enforcement measures.

Under the draft...