A new Tobacco Industry Interference Index released by the Kenya Tobacco Control and Health Promotion Alliance (KETCA) warns that despite a sharp decline in smoking rates over the past decade, tobacco industry interference and the growing popularity of new nicotine products threaten to reverse Kenya’s public health gains.
Nearly two decades after Kenya enacted the landmark Tobacco Control Act, the country has recorded significant progress in reducing smoking. National data show prevalence dropped from 11.6 percent to 8.5percent in recent years, a decline widely attributed to strong public health measures such as graphic health warnings, advertising bans and higher tobacco taxes.
However, the new report suggests the battle is far from over.
Speaking during the launch of the report in Nairobi, Joel Gitali, Chairman of the Kenya Tobacco Control and Health Promotion Alliance (KETCA) said tobacco industry interference continues to undermine public health efforts in Kenya.
He cited the report which warns that the tobacco industry continues to exert considerable influence over policymaking and public health regulations in Kenya.
According to the report Kenya’s interference score improved slightly from 48 out of 100 in 2023 to 46 in 2025 something KETCA say masks a deeper concern the industry’s continued ability to shape policy and weaken tobacco control efforts.
“Tobacco industry interference remains a serious threat to public health,” Gitali noted, “warning that powerful commercial interests continue to exploit policy gaps and delay stronger regulation.”
Industry Shifts Focus to Youth
As cigarette smoking declines, the report highlights a troubling shift in the industry’s strategy targeting younger consumers with new nicotine products.
The reports reveals that Vaping devices and nicotine pouches, often marketed as safer alternatives to cigarettes, are gaining popularity among young people.
According to the report, about one in 17 Kenyan students has tried vaping, while one in 24 uses nicotine pouches.
The report revealed that vaping and nicotine pouches products appeal to young users because they are discreet, flavored and heavily promoted through lifestyle marketing, particularly on social media.
While overall smoking rates are falling, the report warns that tobacco and nicotine use among women is beginning to rise, a trend that could reverse years of progress in reducing tobacco-related harm.
Enforcement Remains the Biggest Challenge
According to the report, Kenya’s tobacco control laws which are widely considered among the strongest in Africa and are aligned with global standards under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control’s implementation remains uneven and weak because of lack of enforcement.
Government have been largely seen to be befriend the tobacco industry and Civil society groups have increasingly taken on the role of monitoring enforcement and documenting industry interference through independent “shadow reports,” which complement the official reports governments submit to international tobacco control bodies.
Advocates say such monitoring is critical in ensuring that regulations including smoke-free public spaces, advertising bans and health warnings are properly enforced.
“Having good laws is one thing. Implementation is another,” Thomas Lindi CEO KETCA said.
Regulatory Gaps and Emerging Products
Another challenge lies in the rapid emergence of new nicotine products that fall outside existing regulations, Lindi said.
“When the Tobacco Control Act was passed, products such as electronic cigarettes and nicotine pouches were largely absent from the Kenyan market.”
Because the law defines tobacco products primarily as items made from tobacco, some nicotine-based devices remain only partially regulated, he revealed.
He said that Kenyan lawmakers are now considering amendments that would broaden the definition of tobacco products to include nicotine-containing devices, bringing them under the same restrictions as traditional cigarettes.
The Civil society groups are also pushing for the proposed reforms to also introduce measures such as banning flavored nicotine products, restricting online sales, regulating additives that enhance nicotine absorption and increasing the size of graphic health warnings on packaging.
They say such measures are urgently needed to keep pace with evolving industry tactics.
Despite its progress, Kenya still falls short of some global tobacco control benchmarks.
According to the report total tobacco taxes currently range between 70percent and 74percent of the retail price close to, but still below, the level recommended by the World Health Organization as the most effective way to reduce consumption.
Advocates also say Kenya must fully implement Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which requires governments to protect public health policies from tobacco industry influence saying that, “Transparency matters and public health must come first.”
The Road Ahead
Public health experts say Kenya’s experience illustrates both the progress and the complexity of tobacco control.
They said that strong legislation and advocacy have significantly reduced smoking rates, but the tobacco industry continues to adapt by introducing new products, targeting new consumers and exploiting regulatory gaps.
As Kenya pushes toward its long-term goal of a tobacco-free society, experts say continued vigilance will be essential.
“Because in the end, the fight against tobacco is not only about passing laws it is about protecting future generations from nicotine addiction and tobacco-related disease.”
