CoffeeChat with Joseph Magero: Denying access to safer alternatives for smokers struggling to quit.

As Kenya moves forward with the current Tobacco Control Bill, access to safer alternatives for Kenyans who want to quit smoking derails.

Kenya’s Proposed Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill, 2024 aims to regulate harm-reduction products. Although this could be a step in the right direction, strict regulations might just have the opposite effect, averting Kenyans who have quit smoking using proven cessation methods back to harmful cigarette smoking.

Main points on what the bill seeks to achieve:

• Restrict access to information on less harmful alternatives like electronic nicotine delivery systems and nicotine pouches.
• Bann flavours, while flavours lead to the success of cessation for smokers who wish to quit smoking.
• Redefine the definition of ‘smoke’ to include vapour, potentially confusing consumers.
• Increasing tax on less harmful alternatives, disregarding risk-proportionate regulation.

The submissions for public submissions have been extended to the 17th of September 2024, providing Kenya’s people with a chance to make their voices heard.

Submit your opinion to the Clerk of the Senate, clerk.senate@parliament.go.ke and copy  laboursocialwelfarecomm.senate@parliament.go.ke.

Watch the full CoffeeChat with Joseph Magero here: