The Harm Reduction Society has sounded the alarm over delays to Kenya’s Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill 2024, warning that the lack of regulation is fuelling dangerous misinformation about smokeless nicotine products, including vapes.
First published in July 2024, the Bill aims to introduce a legal framework for alternative nicotine products, which remain unregulated despite their growing presence in the Kenyan market. The delay, according to experts, is creating regulatory uncertainty and denying smokers access to safer alternatives.
Speaking on World Vape Day, Dr Michael Kariuki, Secretary-General of the Harm Reduction Society, emphasized the urgency of passing the legislation. “Vapes have been in existence for 20 years, yet we still don’t have basic laws in Kenya to prevent them from being sold to under-18s,” he said.
While acknowledging that the Bill is not perfect, Dr Kariuki described it as a crucial starting point. “We must move forward from the current stasis and begin progressing a regulatory structure for alternative nicotine products,” he stated.
Dr Kariuki warned that misinformation about the relative safety of smokeless nicotine products has flourished in the absence of regulation. “Kenyans have faced a growing barrage of misinformation. That misinformation is preventing smokers from switching to reduced-risk products, which could save their lives,” he said.
He stressed the importance of providing accurate, science-based information to support smokers who want to quit. “Smokers deserve clarity about the relative risks of smokeless nicotine products compared to smoking and their ability to reduce tobacco-related disease. This can only be achieved if the Bill is accelerated,” he noted.
Citing global success stories, Dr Kariuki pointed to Sweden and New Zealand countries that have implemented regulatory frameworks supporting access to nicotine alternatives and now enjoy some of the world’s lowest smoking rates.
“Some 12,000 people die every year in Kenya from tobacco-related illnesses. We need to prioritise helping smokers who are struggling to quit,” he urged.
Dr Kariuki concluded with a strong call to action: “Kenya needs balanced regulation of nicotine products one that protects minors while ensuring adult smokers have the tools to quit their deadly habit.”
