Global Health Policy Shift

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – The British government announced on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, a significant expansion of its Soft Drinks Industry Levy, commonly known as the 'sugar tax', to include pre-packaged milk-based and milk-alternative drinks. The changes, set to take effect from January 1, 2028, will target products such as milkshakes, flavoured milks, and ready-to-drink coffees that are high in added sugar.

In a statement to Parliament, UK Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed the decision, framing it as a crucial step to combat childhood obesity and improve public health. "The levy has already shown that when industry cuts sugar levels, children's health improves. So, we're going further," Streeting stated. The reform also involves lowering the sugar content threshold at which the tax applies, from the current 5 grams per 100ml to 4.5 grams per 100ml, a move intended to incentivise manufacturers to reformulate their products. The original levy, introduced in 2018, has been credited with a 46% reduction in the average sugar content of affected soft drinks between 2015 and 2024.

The Kenyan Context: A Growing Health Crisis

The UK's policy decision resonates strongly in Kenya, which is grappling with a rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and certain cancers. According to the Kenyan Ministry of Health, NCDs account for over 50% of in-patient hospital admissions and 39% of all deaths annually. The World Health Organization has identified the growing consumption of unhealthy foods, including sugar-sweetened beverages, as a key driver of this trend globally.

Data indicates a worrying trajectory for obesity in the country. A 2021 analysis highlighted that overweight and obesity among Kenyan women rose from 25% in 2008 to 33% in 2014, with an estimated one in four urban children being overweight or obese. Projections from the World Obesity Atlas suggest that without improved interventions, over 9.5 million Kenyans could be living with obesity by 2035.

Kenya's Policy Landscape and a Call for Action

While Kenya does not have a standalone health-focused tax on sugary drinks, the issue is gaining political traction. In May 2025, Nandi Hills Member of Parliament Bernard Kitur proposed the introduction of a 'Health Promotion Levy' specifically targeting sugar-sweetened beverages. Speaking before the National Assembly's Finance Committee, Kitur argued the levy would "reduce sugar consumption, encourage healthier product reformulation, and generate revenue to support public health programmes." His proposal suggests a tax on drinks containing more than 4 grams of sugar per 100ml, a threshold similar to the UK's newly revised one.

Currently, Kenya imposes an excise tax on soft drinks and, as of July 1, 2025, reintroduced a 4% Sugar Development Levy on all locally produced and imported sugar. However, analysts note these measures are primarily designed for revenue generation and to support the local sugar industry, rather than to address public health outcomes. A 2021 landscape analysis pointed to a conflict of interest between the ministries of Health and Trade as a barrier to implementing a dedicated sugar-sweetened beverage policy.

Regional and Economic Implications

The debate extends across the East African Community (EAC). As of July 1, 2022, the EAC adopted a new four-band Common External Tariff (CET), which imposes a levy of up to 35% on imported finished goods, including sugar, confectionery, and beverages. This tariff aims to stimulate local production and industrialisation within the bloc. While the UK's tax targets specific high-sugar products available in its market, the principle of using fiscal measures to influence consumption and manufacturing is a shared global strategy. The success of the UK's expanded levy in driving product reformulation without harming industry growth will be closely watched by policymakers in Kenya and the wider East Africa region as they consider similar interventions to safeguard public health.