ELDORET TRADERS HAVE OPPOSED THE PROPOSED TOBBACCO CONTROL BILL

NAIROBI,KENYA  ,FEBRUARY 10TH - Eldoret Traders have opposed the proposed Tobbacco Control Bill , warning that its passage could lead  to the growth of illicit tobacco products ,even as they reaffirm support for government efforts to curb untaxed and unapproved goods.

Speaking in Eldoret, the traders said they support government efforts to strengthen regulation and remove untaxed and unapproved products from the market.

“As responsible businesspeople, we fully support lawful measures that bring order and accountability across all sectors of the economy,” said Holliab Lodenyo, Chairman of the Bars, Hotels and Liquor Traders Association in Uasin Gishu County.

Lodenyo referred to President William Ruto’s New Year 2026 address, in which the government committed to intensifying the fight against products that evade taxes or regulatory approval.

According to recent findings by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), more than half of the products in the Kenyan market are illicit. These include beer, cigarettes, cosmetics, perfumes and soft drinks. Such goods often bypass taxes and quality controls, exposing consumers to health risks and hurting legitimate businesses.

“In Eldoret, we have seen an influx of illicit alcohol and cigarettes that has hurt honest traders,” Lodenyo said. “That is why the proposed ban on flavours concerns us. Banning compliant flavoured nicotine products will create a vacuum that illicit traders are quick to exploit.”

The traders warned that removing legal flavoured products from the market would drive consumers to cheaper black-market alternatives. They said this would reduce tax revenue, increase health risks and threaten thousands of jobs.

“If this bill passes, businesses that have taken years to build will collapse, and the government will lose billions in revenue,” Lodenyo added.

The group is calling on senators to reject the proposed flavour ban when Parliament resumes sittings next week. Instead, they want authorities to focus on enforcing existing laws, which they say already address regulation and public safety concerns.
“We ask the Senate to protect government revenue, legitimate businesses and the mwananchi by strengthening enforcement of current laws,” Lodenyo said. “That is the most effective way to curb illicit trade and protect consumers.”