Eldoret, Kenya – In a strong demonstration of Kenya's commitment to combating illicit trade and promoting public health, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale personally oversaw the destruction of 5.5 tonnes of illegal tobacco products. The event took place at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, coinciding with Kenya's commemoration of World No Tobacco Day.

Crackdown on Contraband

The seized contraband, which included a variety of illicit items such as shisha, gutkha (a chewing tobacco product), and banned flavored e-cigarettes, was confiscated during operations conducted by a multi-agency task force. This task force comprised officers from the Kenya Revenue Authority (Customs), local law enforcement, and public health officials. CS Duale reaffirmed Kenya’s unwavering commitment to upholding international World Health Organization (WHO) tobacco control agreements and announced the implementation of new, more stringent measures to curb the illegal tobacco trade. He issued a stern warning that unscrupulous traders involved in the smuggling and sale of such products will face severe consequences, emphatically stating, 'Kenya will not be a dumping ground for toxic substances.' In a related move, the Health Ministry also announced the temporary suspension of licenses for tobacco imports, pending comprehensive compliance reviews of all importers.