By Hamisi Idi
Remarks by tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala in the local media on Monday on the ban of shisha evoked strong reactions from members of Kenya’s Muslim community.
Several media outlets have reported that Mr. Balala has demanded for the revocation of the ban on Shisha further describing the move as unnecessary step from the ministry of health.
The daily nation carried a headline ‘Bring back our shisha, says Balala’ quoting the CS deeply agitating for the return of the water-pipe-tobacco, a remark that has disturbed Muslims particularly those from his Mombasa backyard.
“You do your job, we will support you, but you don’t wake up one day and ban shisha or start closing clubs” Mr. Balala was quoted by the Daily Nation “If we have issues with health, put a tax. Why don’t you ban alcohol? I am not a smoker, so I am not defending shisha smokers”
The sentiment of the CS which is strongly against the fundamental teachings of Islam angered Muslims who took up the issue online, criticizing him for a religious blunder.
Over the last 24 hours, the calling by the CS in supporting the return of shisha has been a heated online debate across Facebook and Twitter and became an endless discussion among congregants at mosques.
“Really surprising to see Balala campaigning for shisha and nightclubs” commented a user in Mombasa-Toa Donge Facebook platform.
“The night clubs are closed by NEMA and done with, he wants them reopened claiming it was a miscalculation on the side of the CS.”
Another user said “You are either a politician or religious, you cannot be both” seemingly attacking the CS on his remarks.
On Muslim whatsup groups, the online tirade against CS Balala’s remarks on shisha ban revocation was growing, calling for Muslims leaders to be responsible.
“Marwa is not a Muslim; he closed nightclubs because he said Mombasa is a Muslim county. Balala is a Muslim he is asking why to close night clubs” one group member reacted.
The remarks by Balala comes barely two weeks after the government through a gazette notice banned the importation, manufacture, advertising and the sale of the products in the country.
