At the 3rd Tobacco Taxation Conference, stakeholders gathered to discuss progressive regulatory policies aimed at safeguarding public health.
With the tobacco industry increasingly viewing Africa as a region to exploit, leaders stressed the importance of vigilance.
Irene Otieno, Executive Director at National Taxpayers Association Kenya, emphasized that “Our priority as a country must be placing health over profits.”
The conference highlighted the aggressive push by the tobacco industry for next-generation products while continuing to interfere with legislation.
Dr. Toro from the ministry of health pointed out that for every $1 the government earns from the tobacco industry, it spends $3 on treating tobacco-related diseases.
Dr. Toro from the ministry of health
This underscores the importance of tobacco taxation, widely recognized as the most effective and cost-efficient control measure.
Rachel Kitonyo-Devotsu from Development Gateway called on the ministry of health to prioritize developing a code of conduct, in line with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control ( FCTC), to establish clear guidelines for how government officials interact with the tobacco industry.
She emphasized that the major challenge lies not in policy but in the political will to implement it.
Participants also noted that transparency and accountability from stakeholders are critical.
Harmonizing taxation on novel tobacco products is necessary to achieve Africa’s goal of ending tobacco and nicotine use.
In this evolving landscape, staying ahead of industry interference is key to protecting public health.