Public smoking could soon be restricted to late hours if an amendment bill to the t is passed by Parliament.
The Bill, drafted by Uriri MP John Kobado, restricts public smoking to between 6pm and 6am.
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It further proposes that on conviction, offenders will be liable to a fine not exceeding Sh100,000 shillings or imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both.
"The Bill also seeks to have all designated smoking areas licensed and gazetted by county governments," he said.
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Persons wishing to have a designated smoking area within their business premises are required to apply for a license and pay the specific fees to the county government.
"Business owners who allow persons to smoke in unlicensed premises may incur a fine of Sh500,000 or three years' imprisonment or both, upon conviction', he said.
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Kobado said on Thursday that the Bill proposes for tobacco manufacturers to share the cost of treating cancer patients by contributing Sh150 million to a centralised fund.
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In addition to giving their employees a comprehensive life cover, all the manufacturers will have to build, equip and maintain rehabilitation and cancer centers in areas where tobacco and tobacco products are grown and the centers shall be managed by respective county governments.
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Kobado said manufacturers at their own expense shall build green energy kilns in approved and licensed by county governments areas for every tobacco growing farmer for drying tobacco leaves.
In addition to this, all manufacturers will have to construct and manage storage go-downs inside tobacco farms for safe storage of dried tobacco leaves, he said.
Kobado reiterated that the Bill proposes a Sh5 million fine or imprisonment not exceeding five years or both for any person who contravenes the proposed provisions.