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The Tobacco Control and Health Promotion Alliance has blamed the lack of political goodwill in the fight against tobacco use in the country.
This comes after the legislators and policy makers delayed to push through a regulation that sought to compel the tobacco firms to give 2% of their income towards developing the tobacco control fund initiatives.
The Alliance says that the Tobacco Control Fund ought to have been in place after the enactment of the Tobacco Control Act in 2007.
In 2014 after a case pitting the BAT against the government and other CSOs that were enjoined in the case, tobacco control regulations were gazzeted and put in force
The Tobacco Control and Health Promotion Alliance suspects that some public figures in the country may have been bribed to delay the implementation of the tobacco control policies making it hard for effective enforcement.
In an exclusive interview with Taarifa News, The Alliance Chairman Mr. Joel Gitali said that the companies employ techniques which ensure delay of policies and if they are made, they are too weak to affect the said companies.
“The tobacco fund is not yet operational and what was to happen is that the companies were supposed to surrender2% of the value of their products that they either manufacture of imported in the country every year,” said Gitali
The funds were supposed to be surrendered as Solitium Compensatory Contribution that was to go to the tobacco control funds as a way of mitigating the effects of tobacco.
Currently, the British American Tobacco (BAT) and Mastermind Tobacco are the main tobacco manufacturers in the country.
“According to the recent expose by BBC’s Panorama bringing to fore bribery allegation against policy makers, we are suspecting foul play that is contributing to the unnecessary delays in the implementation of key life-saving policies. For instance, the operationalization of the Tobacco Control Fund that is meant to support tobacco control work in the country has delayed since the enactment of the Tobacco Control Act in 2007. We know tobacco companies employ various techniques to weaken policies and cause delays in implementation” added Gitali.
He said that the Alliance has been pressurizing the government to investigate the bribery allegations against key politicians and policy makers but this has never borne fruits.
The reduction of Excise tax on nicotine products by parliament from KES 5,000 per Kilogram to KES 1,200 per Kilogram is suspect given the past and present revelations of BAT bribing policy makers.
Kenya, being a signatory to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC), is obligated to implement Article 5.3 of the convention that aims to protect tobacco control policies from the harmful influence of the tobacco industry.
Mr. Gitali raised concerns about the government receiving funds from the British American Tobacco (BAT) Company to the COVID 19 kitty. He alluded that it was against the WHO FCTC and the National Tobacco Control Act that comprehensively bans tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS). Tobacco companies are prohibited from carrying out any form of sponsorship or promotional activities.
The Chairman further urged the Health Ministry to avoid unnecessary associations with Tobacco companies, as guided by Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC in order to effectively support the fight against tobacco use in the country.
Recently, the Legislators reduced the tax that had been imposed on Nicotine products from Ksh.5000 per Kilogram to Ksh. 1200 per Kilogram. Mr. Gitau said it is very wrong for the MPs to reduce as it gives influence to the companies to increase market in the country.
He said they have tried pressurizing the government to investigate the matters but it has always been in vain because there has been no follow up on the matter.
He also blamed the government for accepting funds from the BAT Company as they are banned from sponsoring, advertising and doing any promotional activities according to the guidelines of the World Health Organisations.
“The Tobacco Control Funds were delayed saying there were no guidelines for the implementations. We came up with implementations which were even gazetted but they have not yet released the funds, “Said Gitau.
The Chairman further urged the Health ministry to avoid any associations with Tobacco companies to help fight the used of their products. He said the health CS should transform from being business minded into a healthcare personnel and he will never listen to the Tobacco companies.