Today marked the official start of the Tobacco Industry Monitoring Research and Accountability (TIMRA) 2026 Workshop, hosted by the Tobacco Control Research Group at the University of Bath. I am honoured to be representing Kenya in person and deeply grateful to the University of Bath for their generous support in making my participation possible. TheContinue reading “Day 1 Reflections from TIMRA 2026: Understanding Tobacco Industry Interference”
Author Archives: Oduor Kevin
TIIDWI Issue 2: Countering Claims by the Africa Consumer Advocacy Foundation on Kenya’s Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill
On 29 May 2026, the Africa Consumer Advocacy Foundation (ACAF) published a full-page advertisement in the Daily Nation opposing key provisions of the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill 2024. The advertisement framed its arguments around concepts such as “consumer choice,” “adult freedom,” and “harm reduction,” while advocating for continued access to flavoured nicotine products, including e-cigarettesContinue reading “TIIDWI Issue 2: Countering Claims by the Africa Consumer Advocacy Foundation on Kenya’s Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill”
Deconstructing KNCCI’s Claims on the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill, 2024
Tobacco Industry Interference Digital Watch Initiative: Issue 1, 2026 About the Initiative The Tobacco Industry Interference Digital Watch Initiative is a public accountability effort by Stowelink Foundation dedicated to monitoring, documenting, and responding to narratives, misinformation, and policy influence tactics advanced by the tobacco and nicotine industry and its affiliated actors. Recognizing that tobacco companiesContinue reading “Deconstructing KNCCI’s Claims on the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill, 2024”
Reflections from the MWANGA AFRON Communications Review Meeting
I had the opportunity to participate in a communications review meeting convened by the Kenyan Network of Cancer Organizations (KENCO) under the MWANGA AFRON Project—an engaging and insightful session that brought together communications professionals to reflect on the performance of recent social media campaigns. A key takeaway from the discussion was the urgent need forContinue reading “Reflections from the MWANGA AFRON Communications Review Meeting”
Strengthening Youth Voices in Tobacco Control: Reflections from the Y-ACT Project Launch
On 31st March 2026, I had the privilege of attending the Youth-Led Advocacy in Tobacco Control Project Launch in Nairobi, an initiative spearheaded by AMREF Health Africa under its Youth-in-Action Programme. The event brought together diverse stakeholders committed to advancing tobacco control efforts in Kenya through youth engagement. The project is designed to empower youth-ledContinue reading “Strengthening Youth Voices in Tobacco Control: Reflections from the Y-ACT Project Launch”
New Research Alert: How the Tobacco Industry is Exploiting Social Media in Kenya
Today marked a significant milestone in tobacco control efforts in Kenya with the release of new findings by the Kenya Tobacco Industry Monitoring & Response (TIMR) Team. The study examines how the tobacco industry and its influencers are increasingly utilizing social media platforms to market and promote tobacco and nicotine products. I had the privilegeContinue reading “New Research Alert: How the Tobacco Industry is Exploiting Social Media in Kenya”
Launch of the Kenya Tobacco Industry Interference Index 2025
According to the Kenya Tobacco Industry Index 2025 launched by the Kenya Tobacco Control and Health Promotion Alliance (KETCA), Kenya has been ranked 19th out of 100 countries in the 2025 Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index, with a score of 46. Among the 20 African countries assessed, Kenya ranks 6th. However, the increase in Kenya’sContinue reading “Launch of the Kenya Tobacco Industry Interference Index 2025”
The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC): Why the Late 1990s Created the Perfect Policy Window
In May 1996, through World Health Assembly Resolution 49.17, Member States requested the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) to initiate the development of an international framework convention for tobacco control (World Health Assembly, 1996). What followed was one of the most consequential global public health negotiations in history. After several years of formalContinue reading “The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC): Why the Late 1990s Created the Perfect Policy Window”
A Moment Years in the Making: Graduation, Gratitude, and Purpose
I am filled with deep gratitude and quiet joy as I share that I have officially graduated with a Master of Public Health (MPH) from The University of Manchester, United Kingdom, with Distinction. This milestone carries far more meaning than an academic qualification. It represents years of waiting, resilience, and perseverance—often in silence. When IContinue reading “A Moment Years in the Making: Graduation, Gratitude, and Purpose”
Creating an NCD-Conscious Workplace: Reflections from the Final Episode of the Physical Exercise and NCDs Series
As the year draws to a close and we approach the Christmas season, we have reached an important milestone: the final episode of the Physical Exercise and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Series. Series 21, titled “Creating an NCD-Conscious Workplace,” concludes a journey that has focused on promoting physical activity as a cornerstone of NCD prevention. WorkplacesContinue reading “Creating an NCD-Conscious Workplace: Reflections from the Final Episode of the Physical Exercise and NCDs Series”
ODUOR KEVIN 