Kenya’s New Tobacco Bill is a “Death Sentence” for Smokers

Kenyan lobby group the Campaign for Safer Alternatives (CASA) has strongly condemned the new Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill 2024 as it undergoes its second reading in Parliament, labeling the proposals “regressive” and a “potential death sentence” for millions of Kenyan smokers. CASA Chairman Joseph Magero argued that the bill ignores scientific evidence and would force smokers to continue using deadly combustible cigarettes by penalizing safer nicotine alternatives like vapes and oral pouches.

“Instead of protecting public health, this regressive bill condemns 2.6 million Kenyan smokers to an early grave,” said Magero. “It wilfully ignores overwhelming scientific evidence that modern nicotine alternatives are significantly less harmful than smoking and offer smokers their best chance to quit.”

The bill is expected to support capping nicotine levels and restricting flavors in alternative nicotine products. CASA warns that such restrictions contradict international evidence from countries like the UK and Sweden, where accessible and appealing safer alternatives have helped drastically reduce smoking rates. Magero stressed that if alternatives are too weak or stripped of flavors, smokers simply won’t switch. “Nicotine isn’t what kills, it’s the smoke,” he said.

CASA argues that by regulating safer alternatives as harshly as cigarettes, the bill would be a “disaster for public health” and a “gift to the tobacco industry.” The group is calling on the Senate to reject the counterproductive provisions and adopt a science-led, harm reduction approach that supports, rather than punishes, smokers trying to quit.

• Read more: Kenya Implements Ban on All Tobacco and Nicotine Imports
• News source: New Tobacco Bill is a death sentence, lobby warns

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With over a decade of experience in the e-cigarette industry, Matthew Ma is a seasoned expert in both the manufacturing and usage aspects of vaping products. His extensive background has provided him with a deep understanding of the intricacies and evolving dynamics of e-cigarettes.

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