The Standard, August 28, 2009

Stringent anti-tobacco law and ban on hawking along city streets forces cigarette vendors to work inside smokers’ kiosks
By Morris Aron
The acrid smell of tobacco smoke wafts from one of the several kiosks set up for smokers in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD). Those who hate the habit turn their noses
from these secluded zones created two years ago after a law burning smoking in public places was passed. But as debate continues on whether smokers should be given the freedom

to puff away on the streets, something more dangerous is unfolding in the tiny semi-ventilated kiosk. Health experts are now saying the smoking zones are turning into ‘gas
chambers’ for a group of vulnerable stakeholders who have to keep the kiosk running. Handicapped vendors, who used to be the majority of hawkers selling cigarettes on the
streets, were pushed out of their locations when hawking was burned in Nairobi. Most of the wheelchair-bound venders were later allowed to operate inside the smoking kiosks
where they sit all day serving smokers. They have to contend with the passive smoking from groups that sometimes swell to over 30 smokers. “I know that the effects of passive
smoking are far worse on me than the regular smoker, but I am not allowed to sell on the streets.” Said Michael Wanyama, 40, a vendor who is crippled. He says it is hard for him
because he is not a smoker, having to contend with the haze from different brands of cigarettes all day. He sells cigarettes, sweets and chewing gums inside the smoking zones. A
survey in five of such kiosks in the CBD shows about 20 handicapped vendors sell cigarettes in the enclosure whole day. Doctor estimate that as a result of such constant
exposure to smoke, the vendors could be passively inhaling as many as 20 cigarettes sticks daily.
EXCESSIVE EXPOSURE    
Some said they already experience some effects that doctors have said are related to excessive exposure to cigarettes smoke.
“I experience frequent heavy cold and chest pains.” Said handicapped Samuel Mueke, 32, who works in one of the kiosks.
 He says it is hard to for him doing such a job from which he earns sh150 to sh200 a day. And they dare not complain to the City Council for space to sell their goods. Mr.
Wanyama says the last time the street vendors organized a protest demanding to be allocated space on the streets, they were arrested and fined sh2000 each at the city court and
ordered to move to the outskirts of the CBD to carry their business. Research carried out by the world health organization (WHO) has shown that passive smoking, inhaling smoke
from others persons cigarette causes asthma, coughing and headache among other effects in the short run and in long run term could lead to lung cancer, heart disease and
increased risk of miscarriages and birth defects. The same risks are shared by direct smokers.  Lung specialist Alfred Kiuru, who practices in Uganda, says smoke on a passive
inhaler could take negative effect quicker on since many end up with the smoke from the burning end of the cigarette which is not filtered. “It is especially very severe on
children who are exposed continually,” said Dr. Kiuru. It is approximated that in Kenya alone some 8,000 people die each year, while 4,000 are killed annually by the second hand
effects of tobacco smoke. Close to five million Kenyans smoke and the figure is expected to grow in the coming years despite the stringent anti-tobacco laws. An observation on
the smoking kiosk shows they may not be serving their full sequester purpose. From as close as fifty meters to any of the designated areas, cigarettes smoke permeates the air as
smokers relish in their delight.  And it is not in the handicapped alone that are complaining. “I am not very near the place but the smoke is still very strongly felt from
here,” said Mary Wamboi, 37 who has an M-pesa outfit close to one of the kiosks.
LIKE CRIMINALS
Smokers who use the facilities complain that the barn is making them appear like who are forced to hide whenever they light up or face the consequences of the ever prying
council askari’s eye. “It is against human rights to be squeezed in a little crowded corner for our lifestyle which we chose,” said a smoker in one of the popular pubs across
the city which holes up smokers in small rooms with little ventilation. Those found smoking at bus stations and in markets face a fine of shs.3000 or six months in jail. Those
caught smoking in offices, bus stations; airports and sports venues can be fined up to sh.50, 000 or six months in prison.