The STAR Friday September 4, 2009
HILTON OTENYO

The Ministry of public health and sanitation yesterday launched a crackdown on smokers in Kakamega town as it began implementing the tobacco control act 2007.
The crackdown comes a week after intensive civic education to sensitize the business community and the general public on requirements of the Act by officials from the ministry

and police.
The act was assented to by President Kibaki in July 2007 and given a commencement date of October 8 the same year.
A joint team of plain clothes police officers and public health officials started patrolling the town yesterday in hunt for those smoking in public.
A person found smoking in public is reliable to a fine not exceeding sh.50,000 or jail term not exceeding six months according to the law.
Kakamega Public Health officer Fred Amutavi directed all bars and restaurants to display no smoking warnings in their premises.
Amutavi said shop owners selling cigarettes have been instructed not to sell single cigarette sticks to smokers and instead sell in packages of ten or more cigarettes.
They have also been instructed not to sell cigarettes to people under the age of 18. Smokers within the town will now have to enjoy their pipes at a section of Muliro gardens.

“We have held meetings with the municipal council and instructed them to designate a smoking zone within the town,” said Amutavi.
All buildings on which cigarettes had been advertised have been repainted following the sensitization exercise.
Amutavi said that his office   had agreed with the prosecution at the Kakamega law courts to identify a court where all those arrested contravening the law will be charged.
He said the Tobacco Control Act will be married with the Public Health Act to effectively define what a public place is.
Though the Public Health Act defines a street as a public place, the Tobacco Control Act does not recognize a street as a public place.
The Ministry in conjunction with the Institute of Legal Affairs has already trained departmental heads and law enforcers on implementation of the Act.