As ban on vapes takes effect across the UK, young Kenyans are still embracing the 'cool' trend

This ban followed ongoing concerns around vapes amid the UK government's increase in the push for a smoke-free generation.
Vapes, also referred to as e-cigarettes, are devices that are typically filled with flavour vapour, nicotine and other chemicals. They vary in appearance, ranging from pens, pods, and box mods.
Initially created as a safer, smokeless alternative for individuals who were trying to stop smoking traditional cigarettes, vapes have increasingly been used recreationally, with users becoming addicted to the nicotine that is inside.
Invented in the early 2000s, vapes brought along with them various side effects which include respiratory issues, lung damage and nicotine poisoning, with evidence that it could also impair brain development, particularly in youths.
The UK-wide ban, announced back in January 2024, is designed to tackle waste and the impact of vapes on the environment.
It will only apply to disposable vapes, also known as single-use vapes, while reusable vapes can still be sold.
Analysis by Material Focus, released in December, showed an estimated 8.2 million vapes were being thrown away or littered every week in the UK - the equivalent of 13 per second.
Disposable vapes are typically thrown away in general waste bins or littered rather than being recycled, according to the government.
Ahead of World No Tobacco day that is marked on May 31st, the World Health Organisation (WHO) called on governments to urgently ban all flavours in cigarettes, pouches, hookahs, and e-cigarettes to protect youth from addiction and diseases.
According to WHO, flavours in tobacco and nicotine products have not only made it harder to quit but also have been linked to serious lung diseases.
“Flavours like menthol, bubble gum, and cotton candy are masking the harshness of tobacco and nicotine products, turning toxic products into youth-friendly bait,” WHO said.
In a press statement, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, said flavours are fuelling a new wave of addiction and should be banned.
“They undermine decades of progress in tobacco control. Without bold action, the global tobacco epidemic, already killing around 8 million people each year, will continue to be driven by addiction dressed up with appealing flavours,” he noted.
While vaping statistics in Kenya are not readily available, a huge proportion of Kenyan youth and club-goers have adopted the vaping culture, with many prefering vapes over cigarettes for the trendy aura they project.
To many Kenyan youth, especially women, vaping exudes a 'cool' effect, and being seen blowing smoke out of a colorful vape, while on a night out, makes you appear chic, sophisticated and socially popular.
In January 2018, the American National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine released a consensus study report that reviewed over 800 different studies on the negative effects of vaping.
A study from the University of North Carolina found that the two primary ingredients found in e-cigarettes—propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin— are toxic to cells and that the more ingredients in an e-liquid, the greater the toxicity.
It also showed that e-cigarettes produce a number of dangerous chemicals including acetaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde. These aldehydes can cause lung disease, as well as cardiovascular (heart) disease.
While reacting to the vape ban across UK, Asthma and Lung UK NI policy officer, Andrew Wilson, told BBC News that he welcomed the ban saying that the practise posed serious health concerns.
"Research shows there are very real links with vaping to inflammation of your airways which will then exacerbate existing health conditions, whether you have asthma or COPD," he told the BBC.
Back in May 2024, the Kenya Tobacco Control and Health Promotion Alliance (KETCA) has urged the government to immediately ban and remove nicotine pouches, e-cigarettes, vapes, and Shisha from the market until the country enacts a proper legal framework to control the products.
“This crisis underscores the urgent need to protect Kenyan children and youth from the aggressive tactics of the tobacco industry,” said Joel Gitali, the alliance's chairman.
In the World Health Organisation report “Hooking the Next Generation,” which was launched last year, it was revealed that the rate of e-cigarette use among adolescents exceeded that of adults in many countries.
However, research shows that while companies aggressively promote heated tobacco, vapes, and pouches in the Global North, their investment in African access remains minimal.
"Despite global tobacco companies declaring their commitment to a “smoke-free future,” many have been slow, or entirely absent, when it comes to making safer nicotine products available in African markets," said Joseph Magero, tobacco harm reduction advocate and Chair of the Campaign for Safer Alternatives.
"Africa is still being treated like a cigarette market first and foremost, while harm reduction products are seen as optional extras."
According to industry reports, less than 5% of total investment in reduced-risk product infrastructure (including retail, distribution, and awareness campaigns) is allocated to Africa. Meanwhile, cigarette volumes continue to grow across the region.
“It’s hard to take ‘smoke-free’ pledges seriously when the continent with the fastest-growing smoking population is still flooded with combustible products,” says THR Nigeria Director, Dr. Olatunji Uche.
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