Experts Call for Stronger Measures Against Tobacco Use

Public health experts in Kenya are pushing for more aggressive tobacco control policies, warning that emerging trends in nicotine products pose a serious threat to the nation’s health. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently urged governments to ban flavored tobacco items—including pouches, vapes, and e-cigarettes—saying they increasingly attract young users. In Kenya, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale echoed these concerns, emphasizing the need to expose and counter industry tactics that market nicotine products to youth.
Among the reforms under consideration are amendments to Kenya’s Tobacco Control Act to regulate Novel Nicotine and Emerging Tobacco Products (NNETPs) such as flavored pouches and vapes. Authorities are also calling for stronger enforcement of existing laws—particularly at the county level—by building local capacity, stepping up inspections, and expanding cessation services. Experts argue that Kenya’s legal framework must be updated to meet global standards and safeguard public health from deceptive marketing strategies.
Response from the government has been firm: on World No Tobacco Day 2025, Health Cabinet Secretary Duale presided over the destruction of 5.5 tonnes of seized illicit tobacco products. The Ministry of Health also gazetted 17 new graphic health warnings that will appear on tobacco packaging, including for emerging nicotine products. Meanwhile, Kenya is deepening its partnership with WHO to strengthen lab capacity for product testing, tighten regulations, and fast-track the review of the Tobacco Control Act. As these efforts unfold, public health leaders say the nation is at a critical moment: without bold, coordinated action, the rise of novel nicotine products could undermine decades of progress in the fight against tobacco.