PS Muthoni warns of rising nicotine use among youth

The government has intensified its fight against drug and substance abuse, warning that the growing use of tobacco and emerging nicotine products among young people poses a serious threat to the country’s future.

Speaking during an interview on Ghetto Radio’s Changamka Show, Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni raised concern over what she described as a worrying trend of nicotine products being aggressively marketed to youth and women.

She cautioned that new-generation nicotine products are increasingly accessible and are contributing to early addiction, exposing users to long-term health risks including cancer, heart disease and chronic respiratory illnesses.

“The health and economic burden of tobacco use in Kenya is enormous. We are not just dealing with individual health issues but a national productivity crisis,” she said.

Dr. Muthoni defended the decision by President William Ruto to declare substance abuse a National Security Emergency, noting that drug abuse undermines public safety, weakens families and erodes the country’s human capital.

She outlined a raft of measures being implemented to curb the vice, including strengthened enforcement against illegal and unregulated nicotine products, an import ban on harmful substances, and the introduction of new graphic health warnings on tobacco packaging.

The Principal Secretary also highlighted ongoing reforms under the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seeks to tighten regulations around emerging nicotine products and close existing legal loopholes.

Beyond enforcement, she called for sustained community engagement and prevention efforts, urging universities, parents and local leaders to promote open dialogue through the Kam Tuonge campaign and to support cessation services integrated within Primary Healthcare facilities.

“Protecting our youth is protecting Kenya’s future. This is a shared responsibility,” she said.

The government has reiterated its commitment to a multi-sectoral approach combining prevention, enforcement and rehabilitation in a bid to stem the rising tide of substance abuse across the country.