By Daniel Omwoyo and Eunice Mwathi
The International Institute for Legislative Affairs (IILA) has issued an urgent appeal to the Kenyan government to accelerate the regulation of industrially produced trans fats (iTFAs), warning that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is rapidly emerging as a major national health crisis.
This pressing call follows World Heart Day on September 29th, marked under the theme “Don’t Miss a Beat – Global Action for Heart Health.” IILA forcefully argued that curbing trans fats in the food supply represents one of the most effective, immediate steps Kenya can take to combat CVDs, which are alarmingly on the rise.
The institute cited that CVDs are responsible for 25percent of all hospital admissions and contribute to 13% of all deaths nationwide. In 2024 alone, heart disease tragically claimed 7,478 lives, positioning it among the top three causes of death in the country.
A pivotal 2023 study by The George Institute for Global Health and IILA illuminated the transformative potential of strong regulation. Setting the World Health Organization (WHO) standard a limit of no more than 2 grams of iTFAs per 100 grams of total fat in food could prevent 2,000 deaths and 17,000 new cases of heart disease within the next decade.
Over the long term, this policy is projected to save 50,000 lives and avert over 100,000 new cases.
While the estimated implementation cost for this life-saving policy is KES 940 million, the same study revealed a massive return on investment, projecting a savings of KES 4.1 billion for the healthcare system in reduced treatment costs.
“Regulating industrial trans fats is one of the most impactful steps Kenya can take right now to protect heart health,” IILA said adding that, “The evidence shows it will save thousands of lives, reduce the burden of disease, and deliver significant cost savings to our health system.”
Though Kenya has begun taking preliminary steps toward healthier food policies, IILA is pushing the government to fully adopt the WHO’s REPLACE framework, which mandates strict limits on trans fats and the eventual ban of partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), the main source of iTFAs.
The institute, which actively collaborates with ministries and Parliament, confirmed its support for integrating these WHO standards into Kenya’s food safety laws.
IILA underscored that strong political leadership and timely regulation are critical if Kenya is to shield its citizens from preventable heart diseases and significantly alleviate the country’s mounting healthcare burden
