Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, appears before the Parliamentary Committee on Health on May 15, 2025. /MOH/XThe Ministry of Health has called for cooperation from parents in cracking down on tobacco use among university and school-going children amid a surge in the use of the products among the demographic.
Public Health and Professional Standards PS Mary Muthoni says over 650,000 children aged between 10 and 17 have experimented with tobacco and nicotine products across the country, resulting in devastating health risks.
"They are causing chronic and respiratory diseases to both the young and the old. We wish to ask the parents to join us in this because they are key stakeholders, these are your children, these are the future generation."
In a video message, the PS fired a warning shot to licensed traders who import tobacco and nicotine products and package them in a way that's attractive to children and the youth.
"We have seen many times that we approve a product and we give a license to merchants who are bringing these products into the country, and thereafter they bring a different product, which has more dangerous content," she said.
"Some of these products are flavoured and are very attractive in terms of packaging, and are deceiving. Therefore, the people who are engaging in the trade in regards to this novel product will come for you, especially when you distort information on the packaging and the content," Muthoni said.
She said parents need to keep an eye on their children and monitor behavioural changes that could point to drug abuse and limit or completely avoid giving them money.
"In regards to the same, your children do not have the money to even purchase these products, therefore there is the case of sharing - you buy one and share with 10 friends, which is even more dangerous in terms of health issues, therefore, let us join hands," Muthoni appealed to parents.
The PS said the ministry is on its part working on unmasking rogue industry players who have employed undercut tactics to woo children into using tobacco and nicotine products.
She said some merchants have taken to adding flavours to the products primarily to make them more appealing to young users.
"In this year's theme, we are unmasking the appeal and exposing the industry's tactics and especially marketing through social media. Therefore, we want to warn the tobacco industry that we are going to continue the crackdown, we are going to stop you from bringing products that are going to be dangerous to Kenyans," Muthoni said.
