Health advocates demand tobacco-free 2024

Kenyan health advocates have called for a tobacco and smoke free-2024, supporting the government's war on shisha joints and plans to ban recreational nicotine products.

Head of the Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance Joel Gitali said despite the progress Kenya has made, the pushback from the tobacco industry has grown stronger.

He commended the government on the crackdown on shisha, the heated tobacco smoked through pipes.

“We have a heavy task before us that is getting heavier every day. We need not relent,” he told the Star on the phone.

Tobacco use kills about 6,000 Kenyans every year through diseases such as cancer and heart problems, according to the Ministry of Health.

Gitali urged health promoters involved in tobacco control not to relent.

Last month, the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) arrested at least 30 shisha dealers and destroyed hundreds of hookahs, the water-filled bongs that hold the flavoured tobacco.

Defence CS Aden Duale supported the crackdown.

"Shisha addicts must face the law, as it is illegal in Kenya since 2017. Law enforcement agents must raid shisha dens," Duale said.

Members of Parliament are also mulling a ban on e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches in Kenya to stem the growing health risk.

The proposed ban last month received backing from the World Health Organization, which says it has “alarming evidence” of their disastrous health effects.

In September, nominated Senator Catherine Mumma tabled a motion calling for a ban or strict regulation of e-cigarettes and new nicotine delivery products.

Senators supported the motion noting the growing abuse of nicotine and the increasing usage of e-cigarettes by minors and students.

These products, despite their proven harm, are openly displayed in Kenyan shops and promoted on social media.

On Thursday, WHO rubbished claims by supporters of nicotine products who claim they help smokers of traditional cigarettes to quit.

“Urgent action is needed to control e-cigarettes to protect children, as well as non-smokers and minimise health harms to the population,” WHO said in a statement.

“E-cigarettes as consumer products are not shown to be effective for quitting tobacco use at the population level. Instead, alarming evidence has emerged on adverse population health effects.”

The organisation also released a technical note calling for global action on electronic cigarettes.

Thirty-four countries banned the sale of e-cigarettes, 88 countries have no minimum age at which e-cigarettes can be bought and 74 countries have no regulations in place for these harmful products.

“Kids are being recruited and trapped at an early age to use e-cigarettes and may get hooked to nicotine," WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

"I urge countries to implement strict measures to prevent uptake to protect their citizens, especially their children and young people.”

The organisation, which relies on multiple studies to make recommendations, said e-cigarettes with nicotine are highly addictive and are harmful to health.

It said e-cigarettes and nicotine products have been established to generate toxic substances, some of which are known to cause cancer and some that increase the risk of heart and lung disorders.

“Use of e-cigarettes can also affect brain development and lead to learning disorders for young people. Foetal exposure to e-cigarettes can adversely affect the development of the foetus in pregnant women. Exposure to emissions from e-cigarettes also poses risks to bystanders,” WHO said.

Calls to ban the products are also supported by the Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance (Ketca), a national network of civil societies in health advocacy.

“We have evidence of tobacco industries and other distributors of nicotine products recruiting primary school children through targeted advertising. We need a total ban on these products,” Ketca chairman Joel Gitali said.

The Kenyan Senate is now awaiting a legislative proposal to tame vapes and other nicotine delivery products.

"You go to schools and you find the rate of indiscipline has hit the roof it is because of these e-cigarettes that look like pens," Nyamira Senator Okong'o Omogeni said in September.

WHO said children 13–15 years old are using e-cigarettes at rates higher than adults in all WHO regions.

The organisation said even brief exposure to e-cigarette content on social media can be associated with increased intention to use these products, as well as more positive attitudes toward e-cigarettes. Studies consistently show that young people that use e-cigarettes are almost three times more likely to use cigarettes later in life.

“E-cigarettes target children through social media and influencers, with at least 16,000 flavours. Some of these products use cartoon characters and have sleek designs, which appeal to the younger generation," WHO Director for Health PromotionDr Ruediger Krech said.

"There is an alarming increase in the use of e-cigarettes among children and young people with rates exceeding adult use in many countries.”