Health CS Adan Duale during a past Ministry function. The CS has confirmed the ban on importation of tobacco and nicotine. Photo: Adan Duale X.
In efforts to tighten controls and reinforce support in public-health safeguards, on Wednesday, July 30, the Ministry of Health announced a temporary ban on the importation of all tobacco and nicotine products into Kenya.
In a declaration made by Health CS Adan Duale, as he appeared before National Assembly Committee on Delegated Legislation, citing urgent public-health and regulatory concerns.
According to Duale, the influx of tobacco and nicotine in the country has made it difficult to curb abuse, a reason he told the Committee prompted the ban.
“Tobacco products have been flooding our markets, frustrating government efforts to curb their misuse. This is why we decided to ban imports,” he stated.
Duale directives includes ban in all forms of tobacco and nicotine products, including manufactured cigarettes, cigars, shisha, gutkha, flavoured e-cigarettes and pouches. The ban follows an order issued on May 31, 2026, which nullified all existing licenses for manufacture, importation and distribution.
The order further gave vendors 21 days to reapply under strict compliance of their licenses, further banning promotion and sale of the later products.
In a move Duale argued was to protect the young population of the country, he emphasized cheaply imported products from China have flooded the market, making it easily available to minors in the society.
According to the Ministry, Kenya records thousands of deaths related to tobacco yearly, to counter the effect, the Ministry is creating awareness and currently finalising on Graphic Health Warnings for Tobacco Products Regulations 2025.
Duale send a warning to those shipping the products illegally, with recent incident where containers were seized with drug-contaminated tobacco, which was he said was let in the country by corrupt officials.
Duale further said that existing importers and distributors must submit fresh license applications under the Tobacco Control Act (2007). Vendors who miss the 21-day reapplication deadline risk permanent revocation of their licenses.
NACADA has proposed increasing of consuming alcohol to 21 years from previously 18 years, as well as ban of use of influencers in marketing and advertising alcohol products online.
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