Children under 17, more women now taking vape - Health PS Muthoni

According to Muthoni, children under 17 years are increasingly taking vape, as women also increasingly getting attracted to the flavoured tobacco products. 

“If you see the number of children between 10 and 17 taking vape, it is more than 100,000 already. The rise of smoking among the women is higher than men right now, because of the appealing products that are coming into the market,” Muthoni said on NTV’s Fixing the Nation.

The PS blamed the trend on failure to implement regulations in the tobacco industry. She cited the packaging of the vape products, which are appealing to children, and women.

Muthoni said the recent decision by the Ministry of Health to suspend the existing licenses and import clearances related to the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale, or promotion of nicotine and related products are part of efforts to ensure responsible drug use. 

This, she said, would ensure compliance with the Tobacco control Act. 

Muthoni added that the ministry has rolled out 17 graphic health warnings that must be put in all the nicotine products, including vapes, pouches and cigarettes. 

“These products are not just unregulated and cheap—they’re dangerous. They poison our young generation”, said CS Duale during an incineration exercise at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital’s incinerator, as part of activities marking World No Tobacco Day where over 5.5 tonnes of illicit tobacco products seized from Eldoret International Airport were incinerated.