Zaheer Jhanda To Introduce Bill To Criminalise Use, Trading Of Vapes

• Zaheer Jhanda, the Nyaribari Chache MP, announced that he would introduce a bill to tackle substance abuse
• According to Jhanda, addiction is a threat to future generations, breaks marriages and affects Kenyans' health
• Jhanda single the rise in the use of vapes, as well as a court ruling on the smoking of shisha

Nyaribari Chache legislator Zaheer Jhanda has vowed to introduce a bill to parliament tackling the use of vapes in the country.

Is vaping legal in Kenya?

A vape is a device used for inhaling vapour containing nicotine and flavouring, and the process of using it is known as vaping. The sale of vapes in Kenya is legal, but selling to persons under 18 years is prohibited.

On Friday, April 12, the MP decried the wanton use of substances in Kenya.

“You can find all illegal substances all over. If you want illegal substances, they can be delivered by a boda boda. It is affecting marriage and the education of our young people. There are cases of divorce based on the use of these,” he said.

Jhanda said that vapes had become nightmares for many parents as they are easily accessible.

Aside from the social effects of vapes, Jhanda also cited the health risks involved.

“They can cause lung and throat cancers,” he said.

While the bill might be unpopular, the MP admitted that he is resolute and unbowed.

“It is in line with the government’s efforts to tackle the use and sale of illegal liquor. We must save a generation. Someone must create a comprehensive master plan to stop our children from getting ruined.

Jhanda further cautioned people selling illegal substances in clubs, saying:

"We will have a hotline where you send the location and multimedia on WhatsApp, and the government will close the club, and their license will be cancelled for at least two years.”

The MP also faulted a Mombasa court’s decision to decriminalise the shisha ban in May 2024, noting that he would appeal the ruling.

How rich is Zaheer Jhanda?

In other news, Jhanda and Silvanus Osoro showed off their swanky vehicles in a viral video.

Jhanda stepped into a Mercedes G-Wagon roughly estimated to range between Ksh 12 million and KSh 40 million, depending on trim level.

Osoro showcased his Land Cruiser 300, estimated to cost between Ksh 17 million and Ksh 20 million.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.