Civil society organizations (CSOs) in Kenya are intensifying their call for policymakers to adopt evidence-based strategies, particularly the raising of health taxes on alcohol, as a vital measure to reduce consumption and its associated harms.
The push spearheaded by the Students Campaign Against Drugs (SCAD) and the International Institute for Legislative Affairs (IILA) emphasize that increased health taxes on alcoholic beverages can significantly decrease consumption levels while simultaneously generating revenue for essential public health initiatives.
“Increasing excise taxation on alcoholic beverages is recognized as a ‘best practice’ in alcohol control policy by the World Health Organization (WHO),” they noted. “However, despite strong public support for increased taxes, Kenya has not raised alcohol taxes since 2022 and has removed inflation adjustments in the Finance Act of 2023.”
Fabian Oriri, a policy development officer at IILA, highlighted the global effectiveness of this strategy saying that raising prices on alcohol through health taxes is a proven method to curb consumption, especially among heavy drinkers and youth.
He stated that with current statistics showing that 1 in 8 Kenyans uses alcohol and 1 in 20 suffers from alcohol use disorder, the need for intervention is more urgent.
The CSOs advocate for the transparent allocation of tax revenues to critical sectors such as healthcare, education, and alcohol treatment programs.
“Such measures are not only effective public health strategies but also a means to generate much-needed revenue for healthcare services,” they observed.
Benjamin Odhiambo, a public health expert at SCAD, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the broad societal implications of alcohol consumption.
“Alcohol taxation is the single most cost-effective policy solution we have to address alcohol-related harms,” he said. “With 90percent of Kenyans considering alcohol a significant or moderate concern, this issue elevates the risks of child abuse, liver diseases, homicide, suicide, and HIV/AIDS.”
To bolster the effectiveness of these proposed tax increases, Odhiambo urged that their implementation be accompanied by robust public awareness campaign saying that building trust and understanding among citizens why alcohol taxes should be increased to reduce harm is crucial for its success.
In addition to advocating for increased taxes, the CSOs are calling on the media to play a proactive role in disseminating information about the benefits of health tax increases. They stress the importance of counteracting misinformation propagated by the alcohol industry.
The CSOs urges Kenyan policymakers to heed to their recommendations citing widespread public support and its potential for significant health benefits.
They say that the call for increased health taxes on alcohol stands as a pivotal step toward improving public health and safeguarding communities across Kenya.
