The STAR Wednesday September 15, 2009
BY SAMUEL OTIENO

Kisumu city plans to enforce ban as other major towns in the country have done. Nyanza Provincial commissioner (PC) Francis Mutie has announced that Kisumu will put in place

smoking ban.
Mutie yesterday directed all councils to implement the Tobacco Control Act.
Similarly, manufacturers, advertisers will be tracked in an effort to ensure that the town becomes a no smoking zone.
Speaking when he opened the training of enforcers of the law organized by Institute of Legal Affairs (ILA) Mutie ordered civic bodies to ensure that they speedily enforce the

act.
He said the Local Government Ministry is critical in enforcing the act in municipalities and country councils.
He said effort should be put to have a smoke-free country especially in public service vehicles.
He said since the law was gazetted little has been done to enforce it especially in upcountry.
He blames the delay on the civic bodies that have been reluctant in finding smoking zones in the towns.
Currently, the city council of Nairobi, Nakuru, Mombasa and Kangundo municipalities have enforced the tobacco control measures.
The PC challenged the Kisumu Municipal Council to work with the Ministry of Public Health to enforce the law. He said the government intends to develop and implement policies to

support people who depend on tobacco for their livelihood.
He urged tobacco growers to turn to alternative crops that are not a threat to their health and environment.
Mutie urged the Ministry of Education to include tobacco lessons in schools to rid the next generation of addicts.
Institute of Legal Affairs programme officer Vincent Kimosop blamed lack of goodwill for the delay on the implementation of the act.