In order to curb the flooding of new tobacco products targeted at children, the Kenyan Ministry of Health has concurred to give more authority to the body established to fight them, as it noted that it would propose amendments to the Tobacco Control Act to make the Tobacco Control Board powerful.

Despite being established by the Tobacco Control Act of 2007, the board has not been able to put an end to the tobacco epidemic in Kenya. Kenya has strict tobacco control legislation, yet a recent continental analysis revealed that the country had the greatest amount of industry interference in Africa.

The planned modifications were discussed during Public Health PS Mary Muthoni’s meeting with Naomi Shaaban, the incoming board chair, last week. She stated that the board will be given the necessary autonomy to regulate tobacco-related issues more effectively, but she did not specify the exact reforms that she intended to make.

“The central point was empowering the board to carry out its mandate, particularly concerning anti-tobacco measures and public health initiatives,” Muthoni said. For example, the board is required to oversee the Tobacco Control Fund but has no authority over levies imposed on the tobacco sector.

Globally, tobacco use is the leading avoidable contributor to non-communicable illnesses like cancer. Notwithstanding Kenya’s remarkable tobacco control legislation, a recent continental review revealed the tobacco business there is boldly and effectively opposing the laws’ implementation.

In comparison to 2021, Kenya has the highest amount of interference in Africa, according to the 2023 Africa Tobacco Industry Interference Index. “Eight countries showed deterioration from their 2021 rankings, with Kenya recording the highest level of deterioration,” the new index showed.

The World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control requires nations to protect their public health policies from commercial and entrenched interests of the tobacco industry. The index assesses well governments are doing this.

The tobacco industry has been able to flood the Kenyan market with unregulated products like e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches thanks to the meddling. Recently, Members of Parliament have requested that Kenya’s Ministry of Health outlaw nicotine pouches due to their violation of the Tobacco Control Act.

“The [Health] CS should clarify if the substance has sneaked its way into the Kenyan market as a rebrand of Lyft that was banned by the government in 2019,” Sabina Chege said in Parliament recently, referring to the Velo nicotine pouches sold in the country.

According to the Act, at least 30% of the packaging of nicotine and tobacco products must include written and graphic health warnings in both English and Kiswahili. There are currently no graphic warnings on any of the pouches in Kenya, and just one brand has a small, almost unreadable warning that takes up less than 10% of the box.

The index makes a number of recommendations for governments, such as upholding a firm position against influence from the tobacco industry, expediting the enactment of legislation pertaining to tobacco control, and enhancing the capabilities of stakeholders in tobacco control.

The Global Center for Good Governance in Tobacco Control (GGTC), the Africa Center for Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Policy Research, and the African Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA) collaborate to develop the index each year.

The report states that the three countries with the highest levels of tobacco industry interference are Tanzania, Zambia, and Cameroon, with Cameroon having the lowest performance. The countries with the lowest rates of tobacco industry influence are Uganda, Ethiopia, and Botswana, with the latter being the best-performing nation.

Leonce Sessou, Executive Secretary of the ATCA, urged tobacco control players to use the ranking to promote tobacco control advocacy in their own nations.

The Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance (KETCA), Kenya’s umbrella organization for tobacco control, declared that the nation is regressing in its efforts to safeguard public health. “This is very scary. Our focus and priorities changed. Individual egos and interest occupied the driver’s seat. It might get worse unless we all stand up to be counted. We need a rebirth,” KETCA Chairman Joel Gitali said.

The Africa score, according to Dr. Mary Assunta, lead author of the Global Tobacco Industry Interference score, reveals how the world’s largest tobacco businesses promote their own self-interested agendas in Africa instead than promoting public health. She emphasized that enforcing tobacco control legislation has a significant influence on public health and that doing so is both feasible and affordable.