The government has banned the importation of tobacco products into Kenya, naming China as a key source, as part of a broader effort to curb growing tobacco use among young people and address public health concerns.

Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Delegated Legislation on Wednesday, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale revealed that imported tobacco continues to penetrate the local market despite existing laws.

He said the Ministry of Health made the decision to stop imports in order to limit access and reduce appeal, especially among the youth.

“Tobacco products have been flooding our markets, frustrating government efforts to curb their misuse. This is why we made the decision to ban imports,” Duale told the committee.

He said the move is a key intervention in a wider campaign to discourage tobacco consumption and protect vulnerable groups.

He noted that while Kenya already has laws in place to regulate tobacco, implementation remains weak due to entrenched corruption in enforcement agencies.

“The weakest link in our crackdown, especially on products like shisha, remains corruption within enforcement agencies,” he said.

Duale cited international data showing that tobacco causes over eight million deaths globally each year, including 1.2 million non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke. He warned that the rising use of tobacco among Kenyan youth is driven by easy access and low prices.

“What’s even more worrying is the growing vulnerability of our youth, who are being lured into addiction through cheap, accessible products. We must act decisively,” he said.

The Health Ministry is now pushing for the implementation of the 2025 Graphic Health Warnings for Tobacco Products Regulations, which propose bold changes to cigarette packaging. The new rules will require tobacco manufacturers to display disturbing images showing the harmful effects of smoking—such as lung and throat cancer, rotting teeth, and infertility—on at least 80 percent of both the front and back of the packs.

“The 2025 Graphic Health Warnings for tobacco products are designed to address current and emerging nicotine and tobacco products that were not covered by previous sets of warnings,” Duale told the MPs.

“The objective is to deter initiation of tobacco use, particularly among the young people and reduce consumption and encourage cessation among users.”

He added that the use of visual warnings would help overcome literacy barriers and ensure that all consumers are fully aware of the health risks.

The CS also accused unnamed powerful cartels of being behind the continued importation of unregulated tobacco products, despite increased monitoring at ports.

“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,” Duale said.

During the committee session, he was accompanied by Director General of Health Patrick Amoth, who supported the Ministry’s efforts and highlighted the link between tobacco use and chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular complications, and kidney failure.

Committee Chairperson and Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkong’a said the committee was fully behind the Health Ministry’s crackdown, adding that health must come before profit.

“We recognise that players in the tobacco industry may oppose these stringent measures due to the potential financial losses. But for us, the health of Kenyans comes first. The Ministry has our full backing,” said Chepkong’a.

Gichugu MP and Committee Vice Chairperson Robert Gichimu called for stronger partnerships between the Health Ministry, the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), and county governments to improve the impact of the campaign.

“We are in full support of the graphic warnings. But without strong partnerships with NACADA and county governments, the impact will be limited,” said Gichimu.

Kilgoris MP Julius Sunkuli welcomed the Ministry’s efforts to revive enforcement of long-standing tobacco control laws that had previously seen little action.

“The legislation has been there, but implementation has been a challenge. It’s commendable that the CS is breathing life into these important laws,” Sunkuli said.