Kenyan Network of Cancer Organizations shared a post on LinkedIn:
“KENCO, represented by Vice-Chairperson Prisca Githuka, joined members of the Kenya Tobacco and Nicotine Tax Coalition in a media briefing supporting the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
The coalition emphasized that tobacco and nicotine products remain a major public health concern, with tobacco use being a leading driver of cancer burden and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Kenya and globally. Members stressed that cancers linked to tobacco use continue to dominate preventable disease cases, placing a significant strain on health systems.
Concern was also raised over the increasing use of emerging nicotine products such as flavored vapes and nicotine pouches, particularly among young people who have never smoked. While often marketed as safer alternatives, evidence continues to associate these products with harmful health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, respiratory illness, metabolic disorders, and mental health effects.
The coalition further highlighted that early nicotine exposure may interfere with brain development, affecting learning, attention, impulse control, and increasing the risk of long-term addiction. Referencing the 2022 TADSAS Report, the coalition noted higher e-cigarette use among university students (5.8%) compared to adult male smokers (2%), suggesting uptake among non-smokers rather than use for cessation.
KENCO and coalition partners called for the swift passage of the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill, 2024, emphasizing the need for stronger regulation to reduce the cancer burden, curb NCDs, and protect young people from nicotine addiction.”
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