Health Standards PS Mary Muthoni, when she appeared on NTV on June 5, 2025. PHOTO/X/Mary MuthoniThe rate of smoking among women in Kenya has surpassed that of men, driven largely by the widespread availability of flavoured tobacco products, Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni has claimed.
Speaking on NTV’s Fixing the Nation programme on Thursday, June 5, Muthoni raised concerns over the rising use of tobacco products among young children and women.
She highlighted that more than 100,000 children aged between 10 and 17 are now using vape products, which often contain nicotine and come in a range of enticing flavours designed to appeal to younger users.
“If you look at the number of children between 10 and 17 using vape products, it’s already more than 100,000. The rate of smoking among women is now higher than among men because of the appealing products flooding the market,” she said.
Vape tobacco refers to e-liquids or disposable vapes commonly used by smokers transitioning to vaping. These products typically contain nicotine, the addictive component of tobacco, and are sold in various strengths and flavours.
Muthoni attributed the surge in use among women to the easy accessibility of these flavoured products and criticised regulatory gaps that have allowed the market to become saturated with unregulated substances.
“The market had become so infiltrated, we didn’t even know what we were dealing with,” she stated, explaining the government’s recent decision to suspend all licences related to the manufacture, importation, sale, and promotion of nicotine products.
This suspension is part of a broader effort by the Ministry of Health to safeguard public health and enforce compliance with the Tobacco Control Act.
In addition to revoking licences, the ministry has introduced 17 graphic health warnings, now mandatory on all nicotine products including vapes, pouches, and cigarettes.
During a tobacco incineration exercise marking World No Tobacco Day at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale condemned the proliferation of cheap, unregulated tobacco products.
“These products are not just unregulated and cheap—they’re dangerous. They’re poisoning our young generation,” he said as over 5.5 tonnes of illicit tobacco seized at Eldoret International Airport were destroyed.
The increasing tobacco use among women, coupled with rising vaping rates among youth, signals a growing public health challenge that authorities are seeking to address with stricter regulation and public awareness efforts.
