CS Duale Defends Tobacco Warnings, Reaffirms Patient Dignity
𝐍𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐢, 𝐊𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚 - 𝟑𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale appeared before the National Assembly Committee on Delegated Legislation, chaired by Ainabkoi MP Hon. Samuel Chepkonga, to deliberate on the gazetted Graphic Health Warnings (GHWs) pursuant to the Tobacco Control Act, Cap 245A, Laws of Kenya, at Bunge Towers, Nairobi.
The GHWs, published under Legal Notice No. 107 of following a nationwide public participation exercise in , are intended to:
• Raise awareness of the health risks associated with tobacco use
• Discourage initiation and continued use of tobacco products
• Promote cessation among current users
• Address language and literacy barriers through pictorial warnings
In his remarks, the Cabinet Secretary underscored the serious health risks linked to tobacco use—particularly its association with cancer—and affirmed the importance of GHWs as a cornerstone of Kenya’s tobacco control strategy and wider public health agenda.
Hon. Duale further emphasized the Social Health Authority (SHA) bed capacity access rule, a key deliverable under the Digital Health Transformation Superhighway and a vital pillar of ongoing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) reforms. The rule aims to uphold patient dignity by ensuring that no Kenyan is forced to sleep on the floor in any hospital, whether public, private, or faith-based.
The CS was accompanied by Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Ms. Mary Muthoni, the Director General for Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth, and other senior Ministry officials.