Smoking in Kenya
Cigarettes are legally allowed for sale and smoke in Kenya, but there are some certain restrictions in place. Under these regulations, health warnings on all packaging of cigarettes and a minimum sales age of 18 years are required. However, there are no legal restrictions on smoking in public places. The product can be legally imported for trade with a license, but there is a comprehensive ban on all advertisements, online sales, and vending machine purchases. Additionally, an excise tax of 19.13%, contributing to a total taxation rate of 32.92%, is applied to cigarettes. 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 current smoking prevalence among adults was 6.4%, with a marked gender disparity observed: 12.1% of adult males and 0.9% of adult females were reported to be smokers. This represents a slight decrease from 2020 when the current prevalence among adults was 8.1% overall, 15.6% among adult males and 0.8% among adult females. 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.
Read articles from Kenya
October 11, 2023 by tobaccoreporter.com
Kenya Wants to Ban BAT Nicotine Pouches
Kenyan legislators are urging the government to ban the sale of BAT’s nicotine pouches Velo and Lyft, reports 2Firsts. The Kenyan Tobacco Control Act (KTCA) states that all packaging of nicotine pouches and tobacco products must contain warnings in English and Kiswahili. Sabina Chege, Member of Parliament, showed two boxes of Velo nicotine pouches, which only displayed a reminder that Velo contains nicotine, which can be addictive. The argument by experts is that nicotine also poses serious health risks.
August 29, 2023 by sokodirectory.com
Don’t Deny Smokers Their Best Chance Of Dodging Diseases
World Lung Cancer Day on August 1 served as a stark reminder of the devastating impact that lung cancer has on millions of lives worldwide. It was a day to reinforce the global resolve to combat this formidable disease, but it also exposed a troubling paradox. Just as efforts were being made to raise awareness and find solutions to combat lung cancer, some misguided activists in Kenya were using the moment to advocate for tighter restrictions on nicotine products that offer smokers their best chance of avoiding the disease.
July 20, 2023 by kbc.co.ke
The power of information: embrace science for a healthier future
Now misinformation about alternative nicotine products, such as vapes and nicotine pouches, also threatens to result in unnecessary premature deaths. Fortunately, by acknowledging the overwhelming scientific evidence that shows the lifesaving potential of these products, we can make informed decisions to shape a healthier future for those adults who wish to quit smoking. Much of the misperception problem in Kenya lies in conflating tobacco and nicotine. Far too many people regard them as one and the same. Yet reputable scientists widely acknowledge that most of the harm associated with conventional cigarettes is caused by the toxicants in the smoke produced by the burning of tobacco. [...]
April 12, 2023 by businessdailyafrica.com
BAT ties production of nicotine pouches to lower taxes
BAT Kenya has pegged local production at its Sh1.5 billion oral nicotine pouches factory on “less stringent” regulatory and taxation framework for the new category products.
Managing director Crispin Achola says an investment of a further Sh1 billion for testing of the plant, marketing and distribution of the nicotine pouches depends on authorities providing a facilitative environment.
BAT Kenya imports the non-combustible nicotine products, under ‘Velo’ brand, from other countries, particularly South Africa, despite putting up the factory in Nairobi.
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.