It will soon be mandatory for tobacco manufacturers to display graphic health warnings on all tobacco product packaging, as the government moves to expose the health risks linked to the substance.
Health CS Aden Duale presented a raft of proposed laws before MPs, requiring that cigarettes must carry large, visible images illustrating the devastating health effects of smoking, including lung cancer, mouth disease and infertility.
Duale said tobacco packages will be required to carry disturbing images showing severe health effects of smoking, including rotting lungs, throat cancer and decaying teeth, in a bold move to deter people from smoking.
The images will cover at least 80 per cent of the front and back of each package—30 per cent on the front and 50 per cent on the back. Duale said the move follows alarming data showing a sharp rise in tobacco-related illnesses, particularly cancers of the throat, lungs, and mouth.
The tough regulations seek to reinforce the Tobacco Control Act, 2007, which only set up designated smoking zones.
“The 2025 Graphic Health Warnings (GHWs) for tobacco products are designed to address current and emerging nicotine and tobacco products that were not covered by previous sets of warnings,” Duale said.
“The objective is to deter initiation of tobacco use, particularly among the young people and reduce consumption and encourage cessation among users.”
The new regulations further aim to use impactful visuals to bridge literacy barriers. With cancer now among the top causes of death in the country, the Ministry of Health insists the new packaging policy is just the beginning of a broader crackdown on tobacco use.
“Tobacco is one of the world's biggest health threats; currently it kills 8 million smokers and 1.2 million partial smokers—those who sit next to the smokers,” Duale told MPs.
The CS was appearing before the National Assembly’s committee on Delegated Legislation to defend the ministry’s proposed regulations on tobacco use.
The committee is chaired by Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga.
He was accompanied by director general of Health Patrick Amoth during the afternoon session. Amoth said the move is in line with global events.
“Tobacco is one of the substances that have been proven to be a risk factor for a various number of diseases, including cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular diseases like hypertension and chronic renal diseases amongst others,” he said.
Duale also blamed unnamed powerful cartels, whom he accused of fuelling the importation of unregulated tobacco products into the country.
Containers bearing harmful tobacco products have been seized at various ports of entry, he added.
“The 2025 graphic health warnings are designed to address the current and very emerging nicotine and tobacco products that were not covered by the previous sets of warnings which we had,” the CS said.
“But that does not stop me. We have public health officers at the point of entry because we have said we will not allow harmful products. There are some connected to very powerful people in the country and there is a lot of unregulated stuff in the name of tobacco. That is why we see many of our young people fall victims so we are under obligation to protect the next generation.”
He also blamed corruption, especially at the points of entry, saying harmful substances have found their way into the country, posing serious health challenges.
“Right now, as I speak to you, there are containers that I have seized and directed they are not released because after engaging the government chemist for forensic audit, we have the narcotic team at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations who have confirmed to me in writing that these substances contain dangerous drugs against what the importer is saying,” Duale said.
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