The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective:

Kenya ratified the FCTC in 2002 but is yet to enact comprehensive tobacco controll legislation. The provisions of the Tobacco Controll Bill 2005 are weaker than those contemplated by the FCTC.

The National Assembly Support Initiative (NASI) teamed up with the National Agency for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA) to review and amend the proposed bill to ensure that its provisions approximate to the FCTC and lobby for its enactment. NASI also volunteers legal expertise to NACADA to bolster ongoing tobacco control advocacy.

Methods: NASI redrafted and forwarded the tobacco controll bill to the Minister for Health, the Parliamentary Committee on Health and Social Services and Members of Parliament. NASI held a stakeholders forum in August 2005. NASI is lobbying for the bill's enactment in March 2006 either as a government bill or a private members bill.

NASI drafted subsidiary legislation under the Public Health Act to create a smoke free environment. NASI in conjunction with NACADA lodged a complaint with the Marketing Society over proximity of billboards advertising tobacco products to educational institutions.

Results:

The provisions in the draft tobacco controll bill are now stronger. Increased public awareness on the need for tobacco control. The marketing society ordered that a billboard advertising tobacco products cannot be situated within 300 metres of any school having children below 18 years old. NASI has strengthened NACADA's capacity by providing legal skills that they hitherto did not have.