The chairman for Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance , Mr. Joel Shunza Gitali in a recent interview on public television, called for an increase in tobacco taxes by Government. He argues that an increase in taxes will add revenue to the Government ex-checker and saves lives as well. KETCA have been spearheading this campaign since 2008.
Gitali further went on to state that they (KETCA) do not want tobacco to be there at all in Kenya, but for now they are following the legal framework in place. Gitali says that according to World Health Organization, taxes on tobacco products should be at least 70%. The main io idea is to make tobacco less affordable, which will reduce demand.
He argued that cigarette smoking affects everyone in the society, therefore the Government should ensure that taxes on tobacco increase steadily, for the benefit of the entire nation.
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