Dr. Wilfred Machage, Assistant  Minister for Roads and MP, Kuria

“Being a medical doctor, I understand the health complications tobacco growing, manufacturing and smoking cause on humanity. I have seen people die in my constituency and still impoverished. There is a need for them to be sensitized to discard tobacco growing and find an alternative crop.   
 Tobacco farmers are harvesting large areas of forests yet the companies are putting very little efforts to plant new trees to protect the environment.”

Shakilla Abdallah, Member of Parliament (MP)

“The Government can do away with the five billion revenue collected from tobacco manufacturing companies yet spend 18 billion in curing tobacco related ailments. This is a serious national issue that should be addressed with sober mind.”

Tessy Waigwa, Wife of the Nigeria Ambassador to Kenya

“Other countries in Europe have successfully banned tobacco use. Why is the move not succeeding in Africa, something must be done to save our environment and generations to come”

John Magaiwa, tobacco farmer and leader Kuria West District
“Tobacco farmers in this region are bitter about the way they are being exploited by the leaf companies and have persistently written protesting letters to the firms to increase their prices or they uproot the crop from their farms.”

John Pesa, MP Migori
“These people have been trapped in abject poverty for a longtime yet the firms post big profits from their sweats.”

Lucas Chacha, Action Aid Kenya Programme Coordinator Kuria West District

“Over dependence on the crop by our people has not helped them to break away from the yoke of poverty”