Kenyan businesses have warned lawmakers that a proposed tobacco control bill would increase their operating costs and push more cigarette sales into the illicit market, the-star.co.ke reports. The warning came as Parliament weighed the new rules, which have drawn both support and opposition from different stakeholders.
According to the-star.co.ke, companies told MPs the bill's provisions would raise the cost of doing business. The same outlet reports that stakeholders have asked Parliament to fix what they called an impractical rule on tobacco sales.
The bill has also drawn support. Standard Media reports that some stakeholders back the tobacco control law and have proposed measures to tighten regulation further. People Daily reports a fresh clash over licensing and a proposed nicotine ban, while Citizen Digital reports that traders and young people have pushed back as MPs consider the tougher rules.
The debate reflects competing pressures on Parliament: public health groups want stricter controls on tobacco, while traders and businesses argue the measures would be costly and hard to enforce. The concerns about illicit trade echo a common industry argument that higher regulation shifts sales to unregulated sellers rather than reducing demand. The reports do not include specific figures on expected cost increases or current illicit market size.
What to watch next: whether MPs amend the licensing and nicotine provisions before the bill moves forward.
