Stakeholders call for review of proposed Tobacco Bill as public participation commences

Speaking in Nairobi on the sidelines of a public participation exercise on the Bill hosted by the National Assembly's Committee on Health, the stakeholders urged lawmakers to adopt a balanced and evidence-based approach that protects public health objectives while safeguarding legitimate businesses and employment opportunities.

The stakeholders noted that while they support efforts aimed at reducing the harmful effects of tobacco use and strengthening regulatory oversight, some of the proposed amendments may create unintended market distortions that could benefit illegal operators at the expense of compliant businesses.

According to the Retail Trade Association of Kenya (Retrak) CEO, Wambui Mbarire, overly restrictive measures and heightened compliance costs could place significant pressure on small and medium-sized enterprises already grappling with rising operational expenses. They warned that the increased regulatory burden may force some businesses to scale down operations, potentially affecting jobs and reducing revenues generated through legal trade.