The Tobacco Control Board has suspended the importation licence of a company found to be distributing tobacco products that violate Kenya’s tobacco control laws. This decision follows a joint inspection conducted on March 25, 2025, by officials from the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) at a warehouse located on Mombasa Road.
During the inspection, 11 tobacco brands were identified as non-compliant with the Tobacco Control Act, 2007, and the Tobacco Control Regulations, 2014. Of particular concern were four brands that were not registered in the Ministry of Health’s official database, raising serious questions about their legality and safety for public consumption.
In a formal notice issued to the company, the Board, through its Secretary Anthony Wainaina, announced the immediate suspension of the firm’s import licence. The notice also revoked all previously issued clearance letters that had authorised the importation of the tobacco products.
“The purpose of this letter is to inform you that all clearance letters issued to your company earlier authorizing the importation of the tobacco products are hereby withdrawn/cancelled and recalled with immediate effect,” read part of the statement.
The Tobacco Control Board also noted that any clearance granted for tobacco imports may be withdrawn without prior notice if products are later found to be non-compliant. The Kenya Revenue Authority’s Commissioner General has been notified of the suspension.
Prior to this action, the company had submitted cigarette samples for regulatory review in February 2024. The Ministry of Health’s Drug and Substance Abuse Control Division initially found the packaging and labelling compliant with the law, and clearance was granted on February 27, 2024.
However, the company had also been warned that any future imports must strictly comply with tobacco laws, including the mandatory Solatium Compensation payment and submission of annual disclosure reports.
This development underscores the government’s continued commitment to regulating tobacco imports and protecting public health through strict enforcement of existing laws.
