Kenya is struggling to help smokers transition to less harmful alternatives, ranking 75th globally in a new report released ahead of World No Tobacco Day.

• Kenya ranked 75th out of 101 countries in a global assessment of readiness to shift smokers to alternatives like vapes and nicotine pouches.
• Harm Reduction Society of Kenya, represented by Secretary General Dr. Kariuki Michael, and Africa Consumer Advocacy Foundation, represented by Executive Director Anselm Maina, emphasize the need for affordable and accessible smoke-free options.
• High costs and limited availability of alternatives, compounded by tax policies that could make them as expensive as cigarettes, hinder progress, despite Kenya recording approximately 12,000 smoking-related deaths annually.