BY LUCY ANAYA

 IT is a fact that the Government of Kenya is currently grappling with economic crisis and hardly hit by tobacco related ailments and environmental degradation as a result of tobacco smoking and growing. What is mystifying is that the revenue earned from tobacco industry can not measure billions of shillings spent in curing diseases related to tobacco.

It is evident that the public ignorance and lack of knowledge and information about the dangers of tobacco is the root cause of this. The public do not understand that tobacco kills.

By Achola R. Kapiyo, PhD



The environmental and health consequences of tobacco production and consumption are well documented. That tobacco production exposes peasant farmers to some of the worst and intricate game of exploitation on labour, income and other resources is no secret.

We have come along way. Way back in 1970’s and before, when anti-tobacco issues would be mentioned in whispers, for fear of intimidation, prejudice and even punishment from powerful individuals and institutions that owned tobacco companies.

Then there was the public ignorance and lack of knowledge and information on the dangers of tobacco. This was a great challenge to us in Kenya and elsewhere.

It is widely acknowledged that information is power. The negative impact of tobacco is clearly felt among adult Kenyans today, thanks to the media for ensuring information flow.

The health effects of tobacco are well documented. Cigarettes remain among the leading cause of death in Kenya today, and this is a result of smoking either directly or indirectly by second hand smoking.
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By Lucy Anaya                                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                                                          
The Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance (KETCA), in conjunction with Institute of Legislative Affairs {ILA} held a ‘No smoking stand’ recently during a provincial educational event for form one selection.