Tobacco use kills about 9,000 Kenyans every year.As world leaders gather in Geneva for the Eleventh Conference of the Parties (COP11) and the Fourth Meeting of the Parties (MOP4) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), Kenya has an opportunity to reaffirm its position as a regional leader in tobacco control. The global tobacco treaty, which came into force in 2005 and is now ratified by 183 Parties, has helped reduce tobacco use worldwide. Kenya joined the treaty in June 2004, committing itself to protecting citizens from addiction, disease, and premature death.Over the years, Kenya has made progress…
Author: by THOMAS LINDI
Tobacco use kills 6,000 Kenyans every year. The Ministry of Health and the board are tasked with preventing these deaths.As Kenya commemorated the World No Tobacco Day on May 31 last week, attention turned to the progress made over the 18 years since the Tobacco Control Act came into force.Of concern is the performance and effectiveness of the Kenya Tobacco Control Board, the organ created to safeguard the law.The Kenya Tobacco Control Board, established under the Tobacco Control Act of 2007, was created to serve as a central advisory body guiding the government on tobacco regulation and public health protection. Its…