Machakos to ban smoking in public places

The Machakos government will on May 31 enforce a ban on tobacco smoking in public places.

Health chief officer Lucas Muove said they will use both their decentralised units department and police to enforce the Tobacco Control Act.

Muove who spoke on Wednesday during a Tobacco Control Board meeting said smokers will be expected to use only designated smoking zones.

"We will put labels and deal with smoking the way we did with Covid-19," he said.

The health chief said smoking tobacco has no benefits and only lots of negative effects ranging from health risks and financial problems.

"Statistics show that tobacco use kills 6,000 people in Kenya annually and eight million globally," Muove said.

He said 37 women and 57 men die from effects of tobacco smoking in Kenya every month.

"These are huge numbers, smoking has no benefit but kills. It has brought lots of problems including infections.

"Some women lose their children through miscarriages, while others give birth to children with various problems," Muove said.

The health chief said smoking is expensive since a packet of cigarettes costs between Sh200 and 300.

The money, he says, could have been used to raise families; buying food, paying school fees, providing shelter and clothing.

Muove said it is unfortunate that all groups of the Kenyan populace use tobacco including children, women, youth, men and even the elderly.

"We must say no to tobacco use. It has affected youths. The youngest cigarette smokers range from seven-year-olds to 21 year-old students in universities and tertiary institutions across the country," he said.

The health chief said shisha is equally a serious challenge especially among the youth.

"We have resolved to put serious measures as Machakos government to reduce tobacco use. The war on tobacco won't be left to the administration alone, but everyone including youths, civil society organisations, clergy and media.

"As Machakos government, we will ban smoking in public as from May 31 to curb the vice," he said.

National Tobacco Control Board technical committee chairperson Lillian Mbevi said they intend to create awareness on tobacco use since it kills.

Mbevi said tobacco causes various types of cancer including throat, nose, mouth, kidney and intestine. "Legs get amputated due to effects of tobacco products."

"Tobacco is a silent killer. It brings down our people and our economy. When you use tobacco and get sick, as a family we are called to help pay for your medical bills, it devastates families," she said.

The chairperson also warned smokers against exposing women and children to second hand smoke.

"If you take 10 sticks of cigarettes, those closer to you have taken five. We are telling smokers and those addicted that we have a way to help you quit," she said.

Mbevi also warned against third hand smoke.

"If you smoke in a room, you leave particles settled there. It will take six months to clear the particles and we will keep inhaling them," she said.

Mbevi said smokers should take care of their families by not giving them second hand smoke and third effect that comes through residue of smoke.

The chairperson further said smoking pollutes the environment hence the need to identify designated smoking areas.

She said there is a surge of people using tobacco in the country, youth being highly affected.

Mbevi lauded the Machakos government for resolving to enforce the ban on tobacco use in public places.

"We will be commemorating World NO Tobacco Day on May 31. We are glad that Machakos has taken it seriously and is particularly banning smoking in public places," she said.

The meeting was attended by religious organisations, civil society organisations, health sector, senior officials from both national and county governments and police from Machakos, Makueni and Kitui counties.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)