Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance chairman Joel Gitali addresses the press in Kakamega town recently.
The Eleventh Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), held in Geneva, came at a defining moment for Kenya’s tobacco control journey.
At a time when the tobacco industry is shifting its focus toward Africa with its emerging tobacco products, COP11 was not just another international meeting it was a wake-up call on what Kenya must do next to protect public health and the next generation from addiction.
Kenya was represented by a government delegation alongside five civil society representatives from different organisations, reflecting the country’s long-standing tradition of collaboration between government and public health advocates. This joint presence mattered.
As noted by Joel Gitali, Chair of the Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance, tobacco control civil society organisations participate in COP meetings as observers, but their role goes far beyond observation. Civil society plays a critical role in monitoring the implementation of the WHO FCTC and holding duty bearers accountable for enforcing Kenya’s domestic tobacco control laws.
One key lesson from COP11 is the critical importance of strong, technically well-prepared national delegations. Representatives from the Ministry of Health who possess a solid understanding of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and its policy implications are essential. Gaps in technical capacity emerged as a significant vulnerability that the tobacco industry and its affiliates exploited during the Conference.
Notably, some African delegations included representatives with limited public health expertise, which led to the advancement of economic and trade-based arguments aligned with tobacco industry interests and directly contradicting agreed regional positions on several agenda items. Informed and coordinated participation is therefore vital to ensure that Kenya’s positions remain clear, consistent, and safeguarded against narratives that seek to undermine tobacco control measures under the guise of innovation or partnership.
COP11 also underscored that Conference of the Parties meetings must serve as platforms to accelerate tobacco control action rather than delay it. This lesson is particularly relevant for Kenya as the country undertakes a review of the Tobacco Control Act. A Bill is currently before the Senate, championed by Senator Catherine Mumma, reflecting growing legislative momentum for reform.
The review process is critical given that the existing Act was enacted prior to the 2010 Constitution, which introduced devolution and significantly altered Kenya’s governance framework. Consequently, the law requires urgent updating to align with devolved structures and to regulate emerging tobacco and nicotine products adequately. Kenya can draw valuable lessons from Uganda, which has banned some of these products through provisions in its Tobacco Control Act. This legislative review presents a critical opportunity to strengthen public health protections, but only if the process is conducted transparently and effectively shielded from tobacco industry interference, in strict adherence to Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Another powerful takeaway from COP11 was the central role of tobacco taxation. Evidence. Discussions in Geneva reaffirmed that increasing tobacco taxes remains the most effective measure to reduce consumption, lower the cancer burden, and prevent tobacco-related disease, death, and disability in Kenya, while also mobilising much-needed domestic resources for health.
While many African countries, including Kenya, have shown strong commitment to tackling the tobacco epidemic, COP11 also highlighted emerging threats. Chief among them is the tobacco industry’s aggressive push for so-called “harm reduction” products. Without strong regulation, these products risk reversing progress and drawing young people into lifelong nicotine addiction.
This is why Kenya must also invest in its young people. Youth remain the primary target of tobacco marketing, and they must be empowered to speak out, challenge industry tactics, and champion the tobacco endgame agenda.COP11 in Geneva reminded us that tobacco control is ultimately about people families, communities, and future generations. With strong leadership, meaningful civil society engagement, robust taxation, and firm resistance to industry interference, Kenya has the opportunity to decisively reduce the human and economic cost of tobacco.
Thomas Lindi is the coodinator – Kenya Tobacco Control and Health Promotion Alliance