On World Vape Day, public health experts are raising the alarm over the Tobacco Control Amendment Bill 2024, which has stalled in the Senate nearly a year after it was introduced. The delay, they say, is worsening public confusion around vaping and other nicotine alternatives, and may be costing lives.
The proposed law, first published in July 2024, aims to regulate smokeless nicotine products like e-cigarettes, which are currently sold in Kenya without clear rules. But as the bill lingers in legislative limbo, so does the country’s ability to respond to growing misinformation about these products.
“We’ve had vapes around for two decades, and yet we still don’t have basic protections in place like keeping them out of the hands of children,” said Dr Michael Kariuki, Secretary-General of the Harm Reduction Society. “It’s time to move forward. This legal grey area is helping no one.”
According to Dr Kariuki, the absence of regulation is allowing myths about nicotine alternatives to spread unchecked, leaving many smokers unsure about whether switching to vaping is actually safer.
“Over the past year, we’ve seen a flood of half-truths and outright lies. Many smokers think vaping is just as harmful as smoking or worse. That’s simply not what the science says.”
Studies from around the world support his point. In England, more than 3 million people have quit smoking with the help of vaping in the last five years.
A landmark review from the respected Cochrane group, which analyzed data from over 29,000 smokers, found that vaping is more effective for quitting than nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges.
In Kenya, tobacco use is still a major killer. Every year, about 12,000 people lose their lives to smoking-related diseases. Dr Kariuki believes that number could drop significantly if adult smokers had better access to safer alternatives and accurate information.
“We’re not saying vaping is risk-free,” he explained. “But compared to smoking, it’s a massive step in the right direction. That’s what people need to understand.”
Countries like Sweden and New Zealand have seen real progress after introducing smart, balanced rules for alternative nicotine products. Both countries now have some of the lowest smoking rates in the world, thanks to policies that make these products available, affordable, and responsibly regulated.
“Kenya doesn’t need more delay,” Dr Kariuki said. “We need a law that protects young people while giving adults who smoke better options to quit. That’s how we save lives.”
As World Vape Day draws attention to safer nicotine alternatives, health advocates hope the message is clear: It’s time to stop waiting and start acting
