NAIROBI, Kenya – The Ministry of Health has raised the alarm over the rising use of tobacco and nicotine products among school and university students, with Public Health officials calling for urgent collaboration with parents to stem the tide.
Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni says an estimated 650,000 children aged between 10 and 17 have experimented with tobacco and nicotine products in Kenya—posing a serious public health threat to the country’s young population.
“They are causing chronic and respiratory diseases to both the young and the old,” said Muthoni. “We wish to ask the parents to join us in this because they are key stakeholders—these are your children, this is the future generation.”
In a video message, Muthoni also fired a warning shot at licensed traders who she says are deliberately targeting youth with flavoured and attractively packaged tobacco products—some of which, she said, were imported under false pretences.
“We have seen many times that we approve a product and give a license, only for merchants to bring in different items with more dangerous content,” she said. “Some of these products are flavoured and very attractive in terms of packaging—and are deceiving.”
She warned that the Ministry will crack down on rogue industry players, particularly those using misleading packaging or digital marketing to attract minors.
“In this year’s theme, we are unmasking the appeal and exposing the industry’s tactics, especially marketing through social media,” Muthoni said. “We are going to stop you from bringing products that are dangerous to Kenyans.”
Beyond enforcement, the Ministry is also appealing to parents to take proactive roles in curbing teenage tobacco use.
Muthoni urged caregivers to monitor their children’s behaviour, reduce unsupervised access to money, and have conversations about peer pressure and addiction.
“Your children do not have the money to even purchase these products,” she noted. “There is the case of sharing—one buys and shares with 10 friends—which is even more dangerous. Therefore, let us join hands.”
The Ministry’s push comes amid global concern over the rise of flavoured nicotine products—particularly e-cigarettes—being marketed to minors under the guise of lifestyle branding.
Health advocates argue that lax regulation and digital marketing loopholes have enabled underage access to harmful substances.
