The tobacco industry contributes more than 1% of our GDP, contributing more than 18B annually , employing thousands of our people and huge earnings to our tobacco farmers mostly in the counties of Busia,Migori and Homabay. Today, the Managing Director for British American Tobacco, Crispin Ocholla, his team, and myself held extensive discussions on the regulations that govern the industry, the interventions needed and the establishment of a predictable framework.
BAT is in the process of opening a 2.5B factory in Kenya in the coming months for the manufacturing of tobacco free oral nicotine pouches which will be a great boost to our economy. It's my commitment that we will fast track all the regulations required to ensure all systems go as we attract more investors into our country. I also urged the BAT team to consider partnering with our farmers from the western region to venture into the edible oil farming and mostly during the off seasons for tobacco.
@HonMoses_Kuria Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. #TobaccoControl #NoTobacco @MOH_Kenya @StateHouseKenya @EduMinKenya @NACADAKenya @NACommitteeKE @Senate_KE
@HonMoses_Kuria Within 10 sec of your 1st puff, the toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke reach your brain, heart & other organs. Smoking harms every part of your body & increases your risk of diseases. Smoking affects how you look and feel, your finances and people close to you #NoTobacco @IILAinfo
@HonMoses_Kuria #DoesMosesKuriaKnow Beyond health, consider the environmental impact 🌿🔥 Tobacco farming strains our precious lands in Busia, Migori, and Homabay. As we progress, we must weigh economic gains against these broader societal impacts for a sustainable future. 🌱💡 #BalanceForBetter
Thousands of lives in Kenya can be saved if we correctly identify the real problem: Smoking, not nicotine, kills people. Then we can calmly & reasonably implement policies that ensure that #safernicotine alternatives are available and affordable. #NicotinePouches #DoesMosesKuriaKnow
@HonMoses_Kuria 1 in 3 smokers in #Kenya has tried to quit, but a tiny fraction succeed. Safer nicotine products could help thousands to quit @MOH_Kenya #SaferAlternatives #NicotinePouches #NicotineMyths #HarmReduction