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Tag: Kenya

  • Kenya Looking to Crack Down on Shisha Offenders

    Kenya Looking to Crack Down on Shisha Offenders

    The Kenyan government proposed tougher regulations targeting shisha, including fines of up to Sh1 million ($7,700) and prison terms of up to six months for offenders, arguing that the country’s 2017 ban has failed to eliminate the product from nightclubs and other venues. The proposed Public Health (Control of Waterpipe Tobacco Products) Rules, 2026 would maintain the ban on the importation, manufacture, sale, distribution, promotion, and use of shisha while expanding enforcement powers across the supply chain.

    Health authorities cited continued use among young people, concerns over addiction and disease risks, and evidence of ongoing non-compliance with the existing ban. If approved, the rules would replace the 2017 regulations and establish a stricter legal framework aimed at fully eliminating waterpipe tobacco products in Kenya.

  • Kenyan Tobacco Farmers Protest Harsh Working Conditions

    Kenyan Tobacco Farmers Protest Harsh Working Conditions

    Tobacco farmers in Migori County, Kenya, are calling on the government to require leaf-buying companies to provide protective equipment, citing health risks linked to tobacco cultivation. Growers from Kuria, Suna West, and Uriri regions say more than 20,000 farmers could benefit from access to basic gear such as gloves, aprons, and masks, which they argue are necessary to reduce exposure to skin and respiratory illnesses associated with handling tobacco.

    Some farmers say they are currently bearing medical costs linked to tobacco-related ailments and accuse companies of not prioritizing worker safety, while also urging stricter enforcement of safety requirements in the sector. Tobacco firms operating in the region, including British American Tobacco and other leaf companies, have said protective gear is provided under existing arrangements or offered on credit, though they acknowledge cost and compliance challenges. The dispute comes alongside broader environmental concerns raised by officials, who warn that tobacco curing practices relying on wood fuel are contributing to deforestation and environmental degradation in parts of the region.

  • BAT Kenya Says Proposed Laws Threaten 100K Jobs

    BAT Kenya Says Proposed Laws Threaten 100K Jobs

    British American Tobacco Kenya warned that proposed amendments to Kenya’s tobacco control laws could cost the government an estimated Sh12 billion ($92 million) in annual revenue and threaten more than 100,000 jobs across the tobacco supply chain. In a memorandum submitted to Kenya’s National Assembly, BAT Kenya said provisions in the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill, 2024, could worsen the illicit cigarette trade, which the company estimates already accounts for about 45% of the country’s cigarette market.

    The proposed legislation includes bans on flavors in tobacco and nicotine products, tighter regulation of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, expanded graphic warning requirements, potential plain packaging rules, additional licensing obligations for retailers, restrictions on single-use plastics, and a proposed 100-metre limit on tobacco sales locations. BAT Kenya also objected to plans to classify electronic cigarettes and oral nicotine pouches as tobacco products, arguing the bill does not distinguish between combustible and non-combustible nicotine products.

    BAT Kenya Managing Director Crispin Achola said the company supports public health goals but called for a more balanced and evidence-based regulatory framework. The company urged lawmakers to conduct broader stakeholder consultations and pointed to countries including the United Kingdom, Sweden, and New Zealand as examples of markets using differentiated regulation for alternative nicotine products.

  • BAT’s Velo Pouches Back on Market in Kenya

    BAT’s Velo Pouches Back on Market in Kenya

    BAT Kenya resumed sales of its Velo oral nicotine pouches following regulatory clarity, signaling a renewed push into non-combustible products amid declining cigarette consumption, according to Capital Business. Company officials said this “regulatory clarity” involved confirming that oral nicotine pouches can be marketed and retailed under current rules rather than being in a grey zone or treated the same as banned products. The move supports the company’s strategy to diversify revenue streams in a market challenged by rising illicit tobacco sales. BAT Kenya reported a 10% drop in turnover in 2025 to Sh23.2 billion ($176.6 million), with Velo contributing about Sh232 million ($1.8 million), or roughly 1% of total revenue, between July and December 2025.

    Finance Director Philemon Kipkemoi said the return was enabled by a regulatory environment now accommodating oral nicotine products. With local manufacturing divested, Velo is currently imported from Pakistan, though local production may be reconsidered depending on performance. Globally, British American Tobacco has reached 34 million non-combustible product users, 68% of its 2030 target, and aims for 50% of revenue from such products by 2035. In Kenya, Velo could contribute 15–25% of total revenue within three to five years, forming a key part of BAT’s strategy to expand alternative nicotine products in line with evolving regulations and consumer trends.

  • Mombasa Traders Fighting Proposed Tobacco Law

    Mombasa Traders Fighting Proposed Tobacco Law

    Retail and hospitality traders in Mombasa are pushing back against Kenya’s Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill, 2024, warning the proposed reforms could accelerate illicit trade and undermine legitimate businesses. Speaking at a press briefing, business owners cited Kenya Revenue Authority estimates suggesting more than 50% of excisable goods in the market are already illicit or non-compliant, including cigarettes and other regulated products. Traders argue the bill, sponsored by Senator Catherine Mumma, risks worsening the situation by introducing additional restrictions such as a proposed ban on flavored nicotine products, including vapes and nicotine pouches.

    Industry representatives said while protecting minors is important, further product restrictions could drive consumers toward unregulated markets, eroding tax revenue and threatening licensed operators. Coast Bar Owners Association Chairman Patrick Kabundu warned that removing legal product options could create supply gaps quickly filled by black market suppliers, while traders urged lawmakers to focus on enforcing existing laws, including Kenya’s ban on tobacco sales to individuals under 18, rather than introducing new regulatory measures they say could harm businesses and government revenue.

  • Young Children Gaining Access to Nicotine Products: Kenyan Survey 

    Young Children Gaining Access to Nicotine Products: Kenyan Survey 

    According to the 2024 Data on Youth and Tobacco in Africa survey, Kenya is facing a rise in tobacco experimentation among extremely young children, claiming that smokeless tobacco and roll-your-own cigarettes are reaching children as young as 5 years old. According to the survey, 6.5% of adolescents had tried tobacco at least once, and 2.5% used it within the past 30 days.

    Researchers said children as young as 6 had tried manufactured cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and/or shisha, while vape use was found by age 9. Only 5.4% of the youth surveyed reported being denied purchase of e-cigarettes, and 8.7% were blocked from purchasing cigarettes.

  • Kenya Stays Defamation Case Based on ‘Tobacco Bribes’

    Kenya Stays Defamation Case Based on ‘Tobacco Bribes’

    Kenya’s Court of Appeal temporarily halted the defamation case filed by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula against the BBC, which he accused of defaming him in the 2015 documentary Panorama: The Secret Bribes of Big Tobacco. Wetang’ula seeks damages and costs over allegations that British American Tobacco bribed him while he served as Bungoma Senator.

    The BBC argued that continuing the High Court case would undermine its appeal and block access to crucial evidence from UK courts. Wetang’ula opposed the request, calling it procedurally flawed and delayed.

    The appellate court agreed the BBC raised an arguable point, noting the delay was not excessive and emphasizing the constitutional right to a fair trial. It granted the stay, pausing the High Court proceedings until the appeal is resolved, with costs to follow the outcome.

  • Kenyan Retailers Push Back Against Tobacco Control Bill

    Kenyan Retailers Push Back Against Tobacco Control Bill

    Bar owners and retailers in Kenya held a protest today (September 24) and urged the Senate to halt the progress of the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill, 2024, citing a lack of public consultation. The Bars, Hotels and Liquor Traders Association of Kenya (BAHLITA) and the Retail Traders Association of Kenya (Retrak) also submitted a joint petition, arguing that consumers, retailers, and manufacturers—those most affected by the proposed law—have been excluded from the legislative process. They contend that the bill, sponsored by ODM Senator Catherine Mumma, has been rushed forward without meaningful stakeholder input.

    The petitioners warn that the bill’s stricter regulations on nicotine products, including synthetic nicotine and e-cigarettes, could harm small and medium-sized businesses, increase compliance costs, and inadvertently drive legal trade into the illicit market. With half of Kenya’s cigarette market already illegal, they argue that the legislation could exacerbate black-market activity, threaten livelihoods, and reduce employment in retail. The groups are calling for inclusive, transparent consultations before the bill proceeds to the Committee of the Whole House stage.

  • AOI Kenya Loses $183M Tax Case

    AOI Kenya Loses $183M Tax Case

    Alliance One Tobacco Kenya Limited (AOTKL) was ordered to pay the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Sh23.7 billion ($182.8 million) after the High Court dismissed its appeal following a protracted tax dispute, ruling the company’s leaf processing amounted to “manufacturing,” and therefore was subject to excise duties, according to Daily Nation Africa. The ruling comes after years of wrangling over corporate income tax, excise duty, and value-added tax liabilities, with KRA alleging under-declarations and misclassification of tobacco products. According to filings, the revenue body argued that AOTKL reported discrepancies between sales declared for corporate tax versus VAT returns, while also disputing how the company classified stemmed tobacco and semi-processed products.

    “Our operations in Kenya ceased nearly 10 years ago; however, an excise tax matter with the Kenya Revenue Authority remains ongoing in the courts,” said Miranda Kinney, a spokesperson from AOI. “While we respect the judicial process, we strongly disagree with the position taken by the High Court and are pursuing all appropriate avenues of appeal. We remain committed to meeting our regulatory and tax obligations while maintaining transparent, responsible business practices. Given this is an ongoing legal matter, we cannot provide further comment at this time.” 

    According to Kenya Law Reporting, the case was brought before the Tax Appeals Tribunal, which in September 2024 issued a mixed ruling, partly upholding KRA’s claims. AOTKL’s transfer pricing practices also came under scrutiny, with KRA challenging documentation around full-cost mark-up adjustments with related parties. Ultimately, despite some partial relief from the Tribunal, the company has been ordered to settle the liability, making it one of the largest tax recoveries in Kenya’s tobacco sector.

  • Kenya’s Health Secretary Pushes to Regulate Miraa and Shisha

    Kenya’s Health Secretary Pushes to Regulate Miraa and Shisha

    Kenyan Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale told the Senate that the country currently lacks laws regulating the use of miraa and shisha, and called on Parliament to enact necessary legislation to control their consumption. Appearing before the Senate Delegated Legislation Committee during deliberations on the Graphic Health Warnings for Tobacco Products, Duale said the Tobacco Control Bill, sponsored by Nominated Senator Catherine Mumma, offers a vital opportunity to introduce such controls.

    “The Ministry of Health fully supports the Bill,” Duale said. “We have submitted our proposed amendments and urge senators to pass it.” He also revealed that “powerful individuals” had tried to pressure the ministry into approving harmful tobacco products but insisted the entire government must safeguard public health.

    Mombasa Senator Mohammed Faki raised the alarm over the lack of regulations for miraa, muguka, and shisha, calling them as dangerous as tobacco. He warned that the tobacco industry would likely attempt to influence lawmakers to block the Bill.