Kenya’s Tobacco Industry Keeps Growing Due to Bans on Safer Alternatives

In an article on Capital News, Magero explains that the government’s continued denial of nicotine replacement therapies and tobacco alternatives is sadly leading to a surge in cigarette sales. He explained that while the local tobacco industry is thriving, while campaigners of nicotine alternatives are being frequently silenced by entities accusing them of lobbying on behalf of tobacco firms.

“However, that rate of decline has now all but disappeared, with GlobalData forecasting that cigarette volumes will rise in Kenya by 22.2% from 2020 to 2030, to reach 10.02bn cigarettes a year, while per capita consumption will fall by just 0.3 per cent over those 10 years, to an average 153 cigarettes per person per year,” he said discussing local smoking rates.

Kenya still classifies nicotine alternatives as harmful tobacco products

He went on to explain that while other nations have endorsed nicotine alternatives as harm reduction tools, Kenya keeps classifying these products as harmful tobacco products.

“In Kenya, by contrast, the anti-tobacco lobby has fused tobacco and nicotine into one and decries any voice seeking tobacco harm reduction or reduced smoking as a paid party. Thus, nicotine pouches are being produced in Kenya that are selling across Africa and globally, but, in Kenya itself, they are banned.”

Recent research conducted locally by Dr Michael Kariuki, highlighted that two-thirds of the country’s smokers would quit if they had access to safer nicotine alternative products. Kariuki’s study found that two-thirds of Kenyans who smoke want to quit and use harm reduction products like nicotine pouches or vapes/e-cigarettes. Sadly last year, nicotine pouches were banned locally.

The nicotine pouches ban

Discussing the ban at the Africa Tobacco Harm Reduction Forum hosted by the Campaign for Safer Alternatives (CASA) tobacco harm reduction experts highlighted that the ban put a stumbling block in the smoking cessation journey of thousands.

“By lagging behind the rest of the world in its stance on tobacco harm reduction (THR), the Kenyan government is blocking the escape from tobacco-related disease and death for 30,000 smokers a year, with no chance of reprieve,” said CASA Chairman Joseph Magero during the webinar.

“Kenya’s ongoing ‘quit or die’ tobacco control policy ignores the reality that too many smokers find it impossible to quit, even when they want to. Reduced harm products such as e-cigarettes and oral nicotine pouches give them a much safer alternative, a route away from cigarettes and a better chance of a smoke-free future.”

Study: More Kenyans Would Quit Smoking if They Had Access to Safer Alternatives