The Kenya Tobacco and Nicotine Tax Coalition (KTNTC) has called on the National Assembly to urgently fast-track the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill, 2024, describing the proposed legislation as critical to protecting children and young people from emerging nicotine products such as vapes and nicotine pouches.
Speaking to the press in Nairobi on Friday, KTNTC expressed strong support for the Bill and urged lawmakers to retain its key provisions, conclude the ongoing public participation process, and forward it to the Senate for final consideration and passage.
The group which comprises of Den of Hope, International Institute of Legislative Affairs, Kenyan Network of Cancer Organizations, National Taxpayers Association among others noted that Kenya’s tobacco and nicotine market has changed significantly over the past decade, with electronic cigarettes, nicotine pouches and other emerging nicotine products entering the market faster than existing laws can effectively regulate them.
According to the KTNTC, manufacturers are increasingly promoting these products through attractive flavours, colourful packaging, sleek designs and marketing messages that portray them as harmless and socially acceptable, particularly among young people.
The coalition said the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill seeks to close regulatory gaps by bringing emerging nicotine products under stronger regulation, restricting flavours that appeal to young users, strengthening health warnings and introducing stricter product standards.
It warned that attempts to delay or weaken the legislation could undermine years of progress in tobacco control and expose more young people to nicotine addiction.
Citing the recent case of a student at Moi High School Kabarak found in possession of a vape, KTNTC said the incident highlighted the growing presence of nicotine products in learning institutions.
“This was not a conventional cigarette. It was a discreet nicotine product designed to be easily concealed and appealing to young people,” the coalition said, adding that the incident should serve as a wake-up call for parents, teachers and policymakers.
The group also raised concern over findings from national surveys showing that some Kenyan children are being exposed to tobacco and nicotine products at an alarmingly young age.
According to data from the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), the minimum reported age of initiation for tobacco and nicotine product use in Kenya is six years. The 2024 Kenya Data on Youth and Tobacco report further indicates that exposure begins as early as five years for some tobacco products.
KTNTC described the trend as not only a tobacco control challenge but also a child protection, public health and national development concern.
The remarks come shortly after the observance of World No Tobacco Day 2026 under the theme, “Unmasking the Appeal: Countering Tobacco and Nicotine Addiction.”
The coalition argued that the tobacco and nicotine industry is increasingly using flavours, attractive packaging and product designs resembling everyday electronic devices to normalise nicotine use among young people.
“These are deliberate strategies aimed at attracting new users and creating lifelong customers,” it said.
The coalition further cited the health burden associated with tobacco use, noting that tobacco-related diseases claim approximately 12,000 lives in Kenya every year. It also referenced a 2022 study which found that nearly half of patients receiving treatment for chronic illnesses had a history of tobacco use.
It highlighted the economic cost of tobacco consumption, stating that for every dollar earned from the tobacco industry, Kenya loses between US$2.20 and US$3.00 through healthcare expenses and lost productivity.
Rejecting claims that stronger regulation would fuel illicit trade, the coalition maintained that illicit trade is primarily an enforcement issue and should not be used to weaken public health protections.
It also challenged arguments that emerging nicotine products should be exempted from stricter regulation because they are marketed as harm-reduction tools.
According to the coalition, evidence shows that flavoured vapes and nicotine pouches are increasingly attracting non-smoking young people, creating a new generation of nicotine users rather than helping existing smokers quit.
The proposed legislation would regulate electronic cigarettes, nicotine pouches and other emerging nicotine products under the Tobacco Control Act. It would also prohibit characterising flavours, require child-resistant packaging, limit nicotine concentrations, ban disposable e-cigarettes, increase health warning requirements from 30 per cent to 75 per cent of packaging, extend pictorial health warnings to all tobacco and nicotine products, and restrict sales near facilities that primarily serve children.
The coalition noted that many countries have already introduced regulations governing e-cigarettes, while several African nations, including Ethiopia, Gambia, Mauritius, Seychelles and Uganda, have implemented outright bans.
It urged the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Health and all Members of Parliament to support the Bill and ensure its swift passage.
“The health of our children and youth cannot wait. Every delay gives the tobacco and nicotine industry more time to recruit new users and expand addiction,” the coalition said.
KTNTC urged Parliament to pass the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in its strongest form, describing the legislation as a critical opportunity to protect future generations from nicotine addiction and safeguard public health.
