According to a report by The Star, anti-smoking activists are urging the Kenyan government to revoke the agreement to export tobacco to South Korea.
During a recent visit to South Korea, Kenyan President William Ruto signed a bilateral trade agreement that would increase Kenya's exports of tea, coffee, and tobacco.
The Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance (KETCA) has called on the president to reconsider his decision, citing concerns that the agreement will persuade farmers to continue growing tobacco, even as health advocates encourage them to replace the crop with other viable alternatives.
The World Health Organization, World Food Programme, and Food and Agriculture Organization expressed concerns over the environmental and health effects of tobacco production and consumption. In March, they collaborated with the Kenyan government to launch a project aimed at halting tobacco production in western Kenya.
This project allows farmers to cease their tobacco cultivation contracts and switch to food crops that can help feed the community.
According to the National Coordinator of Kenya, Thomas Lindi, the country's Tobacco Control Act requires the government to continue the gradual phasing out of tobacco cultivation in Kenya.
He stated: "Any treaty or agreement that restricts Kenya's promotion of tobacco cultivation would be considered a violation of the Tobacco Control Act and therefore illegal. We demand that the government immediately cancel any aspects related to tobacco in the Kenya-South Korea agreement.
Tobacco is the main cash crop for at least 55,000 Kenyan farmers, most of whom reside in the western and southeastern regions of the country. Although tobacco contributes relatively little to the overall national economy (about 0.03% of GDP), it is an important economic activity in areas where it is grown.
2FIRSTS will continue to provide coverage of this issue, with updates to be posted on the "2FIRSTS APP." Scan the QR code below to download the app.
Disclaimer
This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.
Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.
The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.
This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.
Copyright Notice
This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.
No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.
For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.
AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice
Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.
Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.
