The Kenya Tobacco Control and Health Promotion Alliance (KETCHA) has expressed growing concern over the stalled implementation of key tobacco control measures, particularly the gazettement of graphic health warnings for tobacco and nicotine products. KETCHA Chairman, Joel Gitali, has warned that continued delays could undermine the significant public health strides made in recent years, as well as hinder the fight against tobacco-related diseases.
While there has been notable progress in reviewing the graphic health warnings—designed to raise awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco use and dissuade potential users—these warnings have yet to be officially gazetted since June 2023. Gitali criticized the slow pace of the process, calling it “unacceptable” and pointing out that tobacco-related health warnings are crucial for educating the public, especially those unable to read, about the dangers of tobacco products.
The delay in implementing the warnings is compounded by concerns over the sluggish amendment of the Tobacco Control Act. Despite consultations involving key stakeholders, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministry of Health, and civil society organizations, the proposed amendments have yet to be presented in Parliament. Gitali suspects that interference from the tobacco industry may be contributing to the prolonged delays, preventing the necessary legislative changes from being made in a timely manner.
In addition to the policy bottlenecks, Gitali also criticized the mismanagement of the Tobacco Control Fund, which was set up to finance vital public health education, support farmers transitioning away from tobacco farming, and fund smoking cessation programs. He lamented the lack of real impact from the fund, highlighting the failure of certain sensitization programs led by ministry officials, which have not yielded tangible results. To address these issues, he called for greater transparency and a more effective use of the funds.
Gitali proposed that county governments be given more responsibility in tobacco control efforts, as health is a devolved function. He suggested that counties should take the lead in enforcing tobacco laws and running public awareness campaigns, ensuring that the fight against tobacco use reaches more communities across the country. He also recommended that tobacco-related funds be directed towards strengthening smoking cessation programs at county referral hospitals, rather than being spent on new construction projects.
Finally, Gitali warned that the UN-backed Tobacco-Free Farms initiative—aimed at helping farmers switch to alternative crops—is at risk due to inconsistent government support. Without a clear sustainability plan and strong civil society involvement, Gitali fears that progress made in reducing tobacco farming could be easily reversed.
In conclusion, the KETCHA Chairman called for unity among stakeholders, emphasizing that the tobacco industry’s influence must be countered through coordinated action led by the Ministry of Health. Only through a united front can Kenya make meaningful progress in its tobacco control efforts and protect the health of its citizens.
