Brief Summary
The Principal Secretary for Public Health, Mary Muthoni, discusses Kenya's progress in reducing tobacco use through sustained efforts like high taxes, strict regulations, and public awareness campaigns. While significant strides have been made, challenges remain, particularly with the rise of flavored nicotine pouches among young people. The Ministry of Health has implemented various strategies, including a multi-agency response, review of the Tobacco Control Act, enforcement operations, and awareness campaigns. They are also supporting farmers in transitioning from tobacco to sustainable agriculture and establishing outpatient secession centers. A special side event at the devolution conference is announced, focusing on strengthening devolved responses to drug and substance abuse, urging collaboration between national and county governments.
- Tobacco use has declined significantly between 2014 and 2022.
- Over 650,000 adolescents have experimented with tobacco or nicotine products.
- A national awareness campaign is being rolled out across all 47 counties.
- A special side event at the devolution conference will address drug and substance abuse.
Kenya has seen a notable reduction in tobacco use due to a multifaceted approach. The 2022 survey indicates that tobacco use among those aged 15 to 65 is at 8.5%, a significant drop from 11.6% in 2014. This decline is attributed to high tobacco taxes, stricter regulations, and robust public awareness campaigns, which have collectively reduced affordability and appeal, especially among the youth. However, the 2024 survey reveals that over 650,000 adolescents between 10 and 17 have experimented with tobacco or nicotine products, and the use of flavored nicotine pouches is increasing among university students, highlighting the need for continued vigilance.
In the past year, Kenya has achieved significant milestones in combating tobacco and substance use. The Ministry of Health has spearheaded a multi-agency national response for emerging nicotine and tobacco products, supported by a costed implementation strategy, enhanced regulations, and targeted risk communication. A comprehensive review of the Tobacco Control Act 2007 has been completed, with proposed amendments awaiting stakeholder validation. The court upheld the national shisha ban in December 2024, reinforcing public health protection. Joint enforcement operations have led to the seizure of illicit nicotine products, with plans for expanded compliance operations in major towns and cities.
The Ministry of Health has launched a nationwide awareness campaign across all 47 counties from November 2024 to 2025, organized into 10 regional clusters with support from partners, line agencies, and civil society. Additionally, the tobaccofree farms initiative has been expanded in Meu, Migori, Bunga, and Busia counties to assist farmers in transitioning from tobacco growing to sustainable agriculture. Integrated outpatient secession centers are being designed, with readiness assessments in several locations to establish a national secession program offering counseling and recovery support.
The Ministry of Health has strengthened strategic research partnerships with institutions like the Kenya Medical Research Institute to bolster evidence-based policymaking. They have also collaborated with the national treasury to increase taxes on tobacco and nicotine products, aiming to reduce consumption and generate revenue for health programs. A special side event at the devolution conference, themed "Strengthening Devolved Responses to Drugs and Substance Abuse: A Call to Action for All the Counties," will take place on August 14th. This event will gather county leaders, public health experts, civil society, and community champions to explore practical, locally driven solutions to drug and substance use, fostering dialogue and stronger partnerships between national and county governments.
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Transcript
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0:02 Kenya has made remarkable progress in reducing tobacco use driven by a sustained multifaceted approach. The tobacco and drug abuse survey of 2022 shows tobacco use between the ages of 15 and 65 is at 8.5%. And this is a sharp decline from 11.6% 6% in 2014. This achievement reflects impact of high tobacco taxes that have reduced affordability particularly among the youth, stricter regulations and robust public awareness campaigns. These
0:49 measures have contributed to a 15% drop in smoking in musician among adolescent since 2020 and further reinforced by the introduction of new 17 graphic health warnings on tobacco product packaging. Yet challenges remain. Data from data 2024 survey indicates that over 650,000 adolescents of ages 10 to 17 have experimented with tobacco or nicotine products. The use of flavored nicotine porches among university students is also on the rise underscoring the need
1:35 for vigilance and innovation in our interventions. In the past year, Kenya has recorded significant milestone in the fight against tobacco and substance use. The Ministry of Health has spearheaded a multi- agency national response for emerging nicotine and tobacco products anchored in the costed implementation strategy, enhanced regulations, and targeted risk communication. Second, we also completed a comprehensive review of the Tobacco Control Act 2007 with proposed amendments now awaiting stakeholder validation. We secured a landmark court
2:21 of appeal ruling in December 2024 upholding the national shisha uh ban, a major boost to public health protection. We also conducted joint enforcement operations with national agencies including night raids in 2025 leading to seizure of illicit nicotine purchase and other illegal nicotine products with expanded compliance operations planned across major towns and cities. The Ministry of Health has rolled out a nationalwide awareness campaign across all 47 counties from November 2024 to 2025.
3:07 Organized in 10 regional clusters and supported by our partners line agencies and the civil society. The Ministry of Health again has expanded the tobaccof free farms initiative in Meu, Migori, Bunga and Busia counties and this is to help farmers transition from tobacco growing to sustainable agriculture. We have designed an integrated outpatient secession centers with readiness assessment in Mombasa, Kisumu, Machakos, Skakamega, Kericho, Nakuru, Meu and Garisa to establish national secession program offering counseling
3:55 and recovery support. The Ministry of Health has equally strengthened strategic research partnerships with institutions such as Kenya Medical Research Institute to bolster evidence based on policym and we have equally worked with the national treasury to raise the taxes on tobacco and nicotine products to reduce the consumption while generating revenue for health programs. It is against this background of progress and persistence challenges that we warmly welcome you to a special side event at the coming devolution conference themed strengthening devolved responses to
4:43 drugs and substance abuse. A call to action for all the counties. And this is taking place on the 14th of August from 200 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. And this engagement will bring together county leaders, public health experts, civil society, and community champions to explore the a practical locally driven solution to drug and substance use. It will be a forum for candid dialogue, sharing lessons from the front lines and forging stronger partnerships between national and county government. Together we will chat actionable pathways that align
5:28 county innovations with national policy. transforming commitment into measurable change that safe safeguards the health, dignity and the future of our people. Let us meet there, share ideas and strengthen our collective resolve because the fight against tobacco and drug abuse is not just a health priority. It is a moral imperative for our generation and the next. My name is Mary Modi. I am the principal secretary for public health and professional standards.
