Wamuzi News Ke
A bold and unexpected move by the government has left nicotine product importers and sellers in turmoil.
In a sweeping crackdown that has stunned the health and business sectors, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has revoked all existing licenses for the importation, distribution, and sale of nicotine-containing products in Kenya—effective immediately.
Anyone previously licensed must reapply within just 21 days and provide proof of full compliance with regulatory standards. Failure to do so means permanent exclusion from the market.
The bombshell announcement came on World No Tobacco Day, during a dramatic public event at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, where Duale oversaw the destruction of 5.5 tons of seized contraband—including flavored vapes, shisha, and gutkha—products he described as “lethal poisons targeting Kenya’s youth.”
“These products are chemically designed to destroy the lungs, impair brain development, and hook a generation into addiction,” Duale warned.
“We are shutting the door on this public health disaster—permanently.”
He emphasized that no new licenses will be issued for the manufacture, promotion, or sale of nicotine products until further notice. The decision, he said, enforces the Tobacco Control Act of 2007 and supports Kenya’s global obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and its Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products.
Duale didn’t hold back. He declared the enforcement of anti-tobacco laws not just a policy but “a moral and legal duty”, calling on all government agencies to take action.
The Border Management Committee, which includes the Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Bureau of Standards, Immigration, and security agencies, was praised for its unrelenting efforts to intercept harmful imports.
“We are tightening surveillance at every entry point. No loophole will be left unchecked,” said Duale.
Alongside Principal Secretary for Public Health Mary Muthoni, Duale assured Kenyans that the government is resolutely committed to safeguarding public health.
The high-profile event also featured Uasin Gishu Deputy Governor Evans Kapkea, Moi Hospital CEO Dr. Philip Kirwa, and Tobacco Control Board Chair Naomi Shaban, who all echoed calls for urgent action against the rising tide of nicotine use among the youth.
This latest move marks a defining moment in Kenya’s war on addiction, sending a clear message: the health of the nation comes first.
