Protecting Tobacco Taxation from Industry Interference: My Presentation at the 4th Tobacco Taxation Conference

Posted byOduor KevinPosted inPublic Health

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to present at the 4th Tobacco Taxation Conference, organised by the National Taxpayers Association (NTA), where I spoke about the need to strengthen advocacy and policy strategies to address tobacco industry interference in tobacco taxation.

My presentation drew heavily from Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), which recognises the fundamental and irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the tobacco industry and public health. The Article 5.3 Guidelines provide governments and tobacco control advocates with practical measures to protect public health policies from commercial and vested interests of the tobacco industry.

I emphasised that these principles are particularly important when developing and implementing tobacco taxation policies. The tobacco industry has a strong commercial interest in keeping tobacco products affordable and accessible. This makes taxation an important area where policy decisions must be guided by public health objectives and independent evidence rather than industry interests.

I also made the case for Kenya to gradually increase tobacco taxes towards the WHO-recommended level of 70–75% of the retail price. Tobacco taxation should not be viewed solely as a revenue-generation mechanism. It is one of the most effective tools available to governments to reduce tobacco consumption, prevent initiation among young people and ultimately protect communities from tobacco-related death and disease.

For me, the conversation goes beyond how much revenue tobacco generates. We must also ask: What is the economic and social cost of tobacco use? Who bears those costs? And whose interests are being prioritised when taxation policies are developed?

Strengthening tobacco taxation therefore requires more than adjusting tax rates. It requires strong institutions, transparent policy processes, evidence-informed decision-making and effective safeguards against tobacco industry interference.

The conference was an important platform for these conversations, and I look forward to continuing to contribute to efforts to strengthen tobacco control policy in Kenya.

Protecting tobacco taxation from undue industry influence is ultimately about protecting public health.

Published by Oduor Kevin

ODUOR KEVIN is a Public Health Specialist with considerable experience in the health care industry. He has worked in various organizations, leading projects and programs aimed at improving the health outcomes of people living with Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and the general population. Oduor Kevin is currently the Chief Programs Officer at Stowelink Inc, a youth-led organization with a single most focus on addressing the burden of NCDs. Oduor’s experience in project management is attributed to his work at Population Services Kenya (PSK) where he served as a member of the National Coordinating Committee for Kitu Ni Kukachora project. Further, in 2019, Oduor Kevin was appointed as Kenyatta University Campus Director by Millennium Campus Network (MCN) to supervise and lead Millennium Fellows in their Social Impact projects. During this assignment, he successfully supervised the fellows and delivered them for graduation under the banner of Millennium Fellowship.

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