Corruption is the biggest threat to the success of Kenya’s tobacco control efforts, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has said, warning MPs that even the strongest laws will fail if dishonest practices continue to frustrate implementation.

Speaking to the National Assembly Committee on Delegated Legislation on Wednesday, Duale said corruption had persistently weakened enforcement of anti-tobacco laws, and called on Parliament to help close the loopholes that allow tobacco-related offences to go unpunished.

“There’s a member who asked, what is the weakest link? The weakest link in this thing is corruption,” he told the committee during a session on the 2025 Graphic Warning Regulations for Tobacco Products on Wednesday.

Duale noted that while Kenya has solid laws to regulate tobacco use, corruption has made it difficult to apply them effectively. “Even if we pass strong laws, they will not work unless enforcement is clean,” he said, pointing to the need for honest and coordinated action across government agencies.

The CS also expressed concern over increasing drug abuse among youth, linking the trend to poor parenting and weakened societal values.

“In terms of parenting, there’s serious responsibility. If you take these drugs, your child will take it. If you pray, your child will learn how to pray,” he said.

He stressed that while religious teachings are important, they cannot replace active parenting.

“When we take our children to Sunday school or to the madrasah, this cannot take the role of parenting. What we lost as a country is that the role of parenting has become very deficient. Parents must take tax, whether it is in terms of these drugs,” he said.

Duale appeared before the committee as Parliament reviewed new tobacco control rules published by the Ministry of Health in June 2025.

The regulations require all tobacco products to carry updated sets of graphic warnings, including disturbing images and pictograms, starting nine months after publication.

According to the ministry, the new rules aim to shield the public, especially young people, from the harmful effects of tobacco and to cut exposure to second-hand smoke.

“Tobacco use continues to pose a significant public health threat, and we must all play our part in reducing its harmful impact. The new GHWs are an important step in our collective effort to protect lives and promote a healthier, smoke-free Kenya,” it said in a statement.

The ministry is urging the public to report any violations and support smoke-free campaigns, while warning that all manufacturers, sellers, importers, and distributors must comply fully with the regulations or face penalties under the Tobacco Control Act.

The latest regulations also align with Kenya’s international commitments under the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which urges countries to adopt stronger measures to curb tobacco use.

Kenya began using text-only warnings on tobacco products in 2008, followed by graphic warnings in 2016. The 2025 rules represent the third set of warnings aimed at increasing the impact of anti-smoking messaging and promoting public health.