NAIROBI, Kenya – The tobacco industry is pushing back against the Ministry of Health’s ban on shisha, with a newly formed industry association stepping in to challenge existing restrictions and advocate for regulatory changes.
The Novel Tobacco Products Association (NTPA) has been registered in Kenya, marking a strategic effort by stakeholders in the emerging novel tobacco market to influence policy and challenge government crackdowns on shisha, vapes, e-cigarettes, and nicotine pouches.
The NTPA aims to represent manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers in the novel tobacco sector.
The association is advocating for self-regulation, arguing that industry-led safety measures can ensure responsible consumption while holding businesses accountable.
A key priority for the NTPA is overturning the 2017 shisha ban, which the Ministry of Health continues to enforce, citing public health concerns.
The government recently reaffirmed that the importation, manufacture, sale, and use of shisha remain prohibited under public health regulations.
However, the NTPA contends that the ban is scientifically unfounded and unfairly favors traditional tobacco products like cigarettes, creating an uneven regulatory environment.
The association’s lawyer, Okalle Makanda, has formally challenged the Ministry of Health’s position, questioning the legal foundation of the ban.
In a letter addressed to Principal Secretary for Public Health Mary Muriuki, Makanda argued that the government lacks explicit legal authority to enforce an outright ban through subsidiary regulations.
“The conduct of the ministry is misleading the public into thinking that cigarette smoking is preferred over novel tobacco products,” Makanda stated, calling for equitable regulation across all tobacco products.
The NTPA has requested a meeting with government officials to discuss the possibility of a more balanced regulatory framework.
The association warns that the continued crackdown on shisha and novel tobacco products is driving the industry underground, increasing illicit trade and harming legitimate businesses.
The emergence of the NTPA underscores the economic significance of novel tobacco products in Kenya.
Industry stakeholders see regulatory clarity as crucial to securing long-term growth and investment in the sector.
The outcome of talks between the NTPA and the government—if they proceed—will have far-reaching implications for Kenya’s tobacco industry, with investors and policymakers closely watching the developments.
