Duale suspends all Nicotine licenses as world observes No Tobacco Day
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has suspended all licences for nicotine-related products across the country, giving importers, manufacturers, distributors, and marketers 21 days to reapply.
The directive, issued during the World No Tobacco Day celebrations, is aimed at curbing rising tobacco and nicotine use, especially among the youth.
Speaking in Eldoret on Saturday, May 31, 2025, CS Duale oversaw the burning of 5.5 tonnes of seized tobacco products at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), including shisha, gutkha, and flavoured e-cigarettes.
“These substances, often targeted at our youth, are laced with toxic chemicals that damage the brain, lungs and overall health. To protect Kenyans and uphold our obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the Ministry of Health has, with immediate effect, suspended all existing licenses and import permits for nicotine and related products,” Duale declared.
Adding;
“All manufacturers, importers and distributors must reapply within 21 days and provide full compliance documentation.”
Duale noted that the move reinforces the government’s commitment to enforcing the Tobacco Control Act, 2007, and ending the illicit tobacco trade.
He commended the Border Management Committee, including KRA, KEBS, Immigration, Port Health, and security agencies for their vigilance, and thanked MTRH for facilitating the destruction of the harmful products.
The Health CS was accompanied by Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni, MTRH CEO Philip Kirwa, Senior Director for Administration and Finance Benjamin Tarus, Uasin Gishu Deputy Governor Evans Kapkea, and Tobacco Control Board Chairperson Naomi Shaban.
Shisha ban
This latest crackdown follows a series of measures by the government to control tobacco-related substances. In February 2025, the Ministry of Health reiterated that the ban on shisha remained in full effect.
Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni warned Kenyans against violating the order, stating that the 2017 ban prohibits the manufacture, importation, sale, and use of shisha under the Public Health (Control of Shisha Smoking) Rules.
“Shisha smoking poses serious health risks, including respiratory diseases, heart conditions, and exposure to toxic chemicals. These dangers led to a legal challenge in 2018, but both the High Court and the Court of Appeal upheld the ban, affirming that public health must take priority over commercial interests,” Muthoni said at the time,
The Ministry also urged the public to prioritise their health and cooperate with authorities.
Despite legal challenges, the Court of Appeal reaffirmed the ban in a ruling delivered on December 23, 2024, overruling a 2024 decision by Shanzu Law Courts that declared there was no valid or lawful ban in place. The lower court ruling had resulted in the release of about 50 individuals arrested for shisha-related offences.
