Smoking in Kenya
Tobacco smoking in Kenya remains a formidable public health concern. The number of smokers aged 15 and older in 2024 was estimated to be 2,3 million individuals based on the data from the World Health Organization (WHO). This indicates that the overall adult current smoking prevalence was 6.4%, with a marked gender disparity observed: 12.1% of males and 0.9% of females were reported to be smokers. This represents a slight decrease from 2020 when the current prevalence was 8.1% overall, with 15.6% of males and 0.8% of females smoking. In 2021, tobacco smoking accounted for 9,418 deaths, corresponding to 2.63% of all deaths attributed to smoking. Gender differences in smoking-related mortality are evident, with 7810 male deaths (3.81% of all male deaths) and 1608 female deaths (1.05% of all female deaths). For reference, the adult daily smoking prevalence in 2015 was 8.3%, with 16.6% among males and 0.4% among females. These statistics underscore the ongoing challenge of tobacco smoking in Kenya, necessitating continued public health interventions and regulatory measures to reduce smoking prevalence and associated health impacts.
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August 31, 2022 by theafricareport.com
BAT reverses ban to relaunch nicotine pouches in Kenya
In less than 24 months, nicotine pouches are back on the Kenyan market after British American Tobacco (BAT), the biggest manufacturer in Kenya, lobbied government authorities for their reintroduction. Meanwhile, the tobacco manufacturer continues to push for the opening of its $2.5m nicotine manufacturing plant in Nairobi.
Confidential documents seen by The Africa Report show that BAT Kenya Plc imported ten tonnes of Velo – the new name for the nicotine pouches in Kenya, and the name given to the product in other countries – from South Africa in July 2022, and has already ordered additional supplies, which are expected to arrive in the country by the end of August.
May 31, 2022 by capitalfm.co.ke
Without Nicotine Alternatives, Kenya’s Tobacco Industry Is Growing
This World No Tobacco Day, Kenya appears to be further than ever from reducing cigarette sales and smoking. Its decision not to have any smoking reduction plan or policy since 2015, is proving to be good news for the smoking industry. For, without it, the government’s cocktail of ignoring nicotine replacement therapies and banning tobacco alternatives is leading to a surge in cigarette sales, according to global market researchers, in an unexpected windfall for the country’s cigarette producers.
May 27, 2022 by businessdailyafrica.com
Use of alternative nicotine is one way of harm reduction
Proposed new taxes on e-cigarettes and other alternative nicotine products have attracted significant attention since their announcement in the national Budget speech.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani’s commitment to protect the health of citizens is to be commended. But there is concern among many in the public health community that his proposals to make tobacco harm reduction products less affordable will negatively affect efforts to cut Kenya’s stubbornly high smoking rates. Harm reduction is a concept that is widely accepted in the treatment of drug addiction, yet seems to receive less support in our country when applied to the treatment of smokers.
April 19, 2022 by sokodirectory.com
Doubling The Tax On Tobacco-Free Alternatives Leaves Smokers With No Choice But To Smoke On
The 108 percent tax increase on nicotine pouches will deprive Kenyan smokers of their best chance to kick their deadly habit, the Campaign for Safer Alternatives (CASA) warns [...] In the Finance Bill, Treasury CS Ukur Yatani revealed plans to more than double the excise on tobacco-free nicotine pouches from Shs 1,200 to Shs 1,500 per kg. The average tax increase for excisable goods was 10 percent with nicotine pouches being the only product hit with a 108% increase.
“Prohibitive taxes on nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes are putting these safer options out of reach of millions of smokers who are desperate to quit,” says CASA chairman Joe Magero.
March 01, 2022 by tuko.co.ke
Most Kenyan Smokers Would Quit if They Got Alternatives like E-Cigarettes, Research
Two-thirds of Kenyans who smoke want to quit and use harm reduction products like nicotine pouches or vapes/e-cigarettes, that is according to research by Dr Michael Kariuki. In an interview with TUKO.co.ke, Dr Kariuki stated that he was interested in the area because he has been a medical practitioner for over 15 years and has seen the struggle. He explained that the rate of smoking has gone down in the recent past compared to 10 years ago because of spirited campaigns against smoking.
February 18, 2022 by newstrends.co.ke
Urgency for a new approach to tobacco control in Kenya
Tobacco use is the topmost preventable cause of death in Kenya according to the Ministry of Health. [...] the government continues to take a quit or die approach to tobacco control. Kenya urgently needs to shift its focus away from this and embrace a harm reduction mindset. However, we remain very far from this and it threatens hundreds if not thousands of lives. [...] Dr Kgosi Letlape, a doctor and AHRA President noted, most of the harm caused by cigarettes is from the burning of tobacco. If smokers switch to alternative products which don’t contain tobacco, you instantaneously reduce the harm and ultimately save lives.
May 25, 2021 by kahawatungu.com
Experts Fault Kenyan Gov’t For Banning Oral Nicotine Products
Kenya’s obstructive stance on innovative tobacco-free oral nicotine products (ONDS) is denying thousands of smokers desperate to quit cigarettes an extraordinary opportunity to have informed choices and save lives.
That’s according to international medical experts who addressed the Africa Tobacco Harm Reduction Forum [...]
“By lagging behind the rest of the world in its stance on tobacco harm reduction (THR), the Kenyan
government is blocking the escape from tobacco-related disease and death for 30,000 smokers a year, with no chance of reprieve,” CASA Chairman Joseph Magero told the webinar.
November 17, 2020 by vapingpost.com
BAT to Start Manufacturing Nicotine Pouches in Kenya
A recent study conducted by the tobacco company to illustrate the relative safety of the products, analysed the toxicological impact of BAT’s nicotine pouches Velo, formerly called Lyft. These tea bag-like pouches, are similar in appearance and use to snus. They are placed under the upper lip for about 15 to 30 minutes depending on the preferred nicotine dose and have the added benefit of being tobacco-free, odour-free, and not requiring spitting.
October 23, 2020 by businessdailyafrica.com
BAT sees a future through the smoke on nicotine pouches
We announced to the government [of Kenya] about two years ago now that we had the intention to invest $25 million in a new manufacturing site. This is part of the group’s strategy to move the business into potentially harm-reduced products.
Basically, we are providing more choices and allowing people to move away from smoking. That strategy has been in place at the group level for over 10 years in terms of research and development. But, as a business, now we are at a position to start expanding the footprint of these new categories around the world.
January 15, 2020 by businessdailyafrica.com
BAT raises cigarette prices on higher taxes
BAT Kenya has raised the prices of nearly all of its cigarettes by up to Sh15 per packet in changes the company said are meant to pass increased taxes to consumers.
The price increments took effect on January 2. The Finance Act 2019 raised excise duty charged on cigarettes by 14.1 percent effective last November. The Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed firm said the higher taxes have made cigarettes made in Kenya expensive, adding that this has, in turn, fuelled smuggling of cheap products from neighbouring countries.
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