The government has imposed a total ban on the importation of tobacco products, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale told MPs on Wednesday, in what he described as a decisive move to protect public health.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Committee on Delegated Legislation, CS Duale said the crackdown targets both legal and illegal tobacco imports, including shisha, which he claimed are slipping into the country often through porous borders and with the help of corrupt officials.
“Tobacco products have been flooding our markets, frustrating our efforts to curb their misuse,” said Duale. “This is why we made the decision to ban all imports.”
The CS didn’t shy away from pointing fingers, noting that graft within enforcement agencies continues to be the weakest link in controlling the inflow of banned substances like shisha.
He warned that the ministry would not relent despite pushback from stakeholders in the tobacco industry.
“We’re seeing a disturbing rise in the number of young people getting hooked, largely due to the easy access and low prices of these products,” Duale added. “We have to act fast and firmly.”
In a bid to give extra strength to anti-tobacco advertisements, Duale revealed that the ministry is in the process of coming up with new graphic warnings on tobacco products, claiming the current warnings are not strong enough to deter customers.
The members of the parliamentary committee showed solidarity with the CS, with the Chairperson Samuel Chepkong’a urging the Ministry of Health to closely collaborate with county governments and NACADA to extend the crackdown to the grassroots level.
“The tobacco industry may be able to dig in its heels due to the financial hit but for us, the health and welfare of Kenyans is paramount,” Chepkong’a said.
The news on Wednesday follows a May 31 directive by Duale under which the ministry cancelled all existing licences for tobacco and nicotine products. The CS then issued a 21-day notice to the parties concerned to reapply under tougher terms.
In line with the Tobacco Control Act and supporting legislation, I hereby made the declaration suspending all import clearances and manufacture, distribution and sale licenses for nicotine products,” he said in the directive in May.
The new ban is evidence of the government’s quest to unpick the supply chain of harmful tobacco products as part of wider reforms in Kenya’s public health landscape.
