Regulations challenge must await implementation

Kenya’s Attorney General has hit out at an attempt by British American Tobacco Kenya to stop the implementation of the Tobacco Control Regulations 2014, which is due to come into force on June 6, according to a story by Caroline Rwenji for The Standard.

Through a state counsel, AG Githu Muigai reportedly said that the case filed by BAT Kenya was premature and illogical because the regulations were yet to be effected.

High Court Judge, Mumbi Ngugi, declined to issue temporary orders stopping the implementation of the tobacco regulations next month and instead directed that the matter proceed to hearing on June 27.

BAT Kenya went to court under a certificate of urgency seeking to have the regulations quashed on the grounds that they were unconstitutional.

The company’s head of legal affairs, Simukai Munjanganja, was said to have argued that the cost of compliance with the new regulations was huge and would negatively impact the company.