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  • Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance(KETCA) needs Health heads to ban nicotine receptacles

    Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance(KETCA) needs Health heads to ban nicotine receptacles

    Health promotion advocates have formally solicited the government to uphold the current ban on nicotine pouches and ignore the latest by one manufacturer to allow them back accompanied by a sign. The vow by British American Tobacco, sent to Health CS, Mutahi Kagwe, on September 7, 2021, asks that their nicotine pouches, brand names LYFT or Velo, be allowed back into the market and health warning covering 10 per cent of the packet. ‘The manufacture, distribution and sale of our LYFT product have been temporarily ceased in the market since October 2020. Our resumption of factory operations and sale of LYFT in Kenya hinges on the provision of appropriate health warnings for the product,’ says the letter by BAT’s Managing Director, Crispin Achola.


    Achola added that the Cabinet Secretary exercise discretion and direct that oral nicotine pouches such as LYFT (also known as Velo) apply text health warnings in the form and format as shred in this letter and as shown in the pictures in the appendix. The Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance (KETCA), the umbrella organization for all organizations involved in tobacco control and health promotion in Kenya, advised the Health CS to stick to the Kenya Tobacco Control Act and The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control , for outlaws any involvement of the tobacco industry in the formulation of health news.

    ‘The World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which Kenya has signed and ratified in 2004, also clearly states the industry must not sit on the table where tobacco control laws those drafted. In Kenya, the industry is purporting to draft the laws on behalf of the government. Of course, they draft loophole-ridden legislation and then wait to exploit them,’ said KETCA Chairman Mr Joel Gitali. He added that the tobacco industry has been diversifying into alternative tobacco and nicotine products to grow profits in a rapidly shrinking cigarette market.


    The letter by Achola says that nicotine pouches are BAT’s ‘lowest risk’ products. ‘This assessment is based on BAT’s analysis of, among others and emissions, heavy metals as well as cellular analysis across its product portfolio.’
    Mr Gitali noted such assertions based on fraudulent science because there is no data to show nicotine pouches are safe or are effective to help quit cigarette smoking. ‘Nicotine pouches come with their risks, including skin irritation, addiction, and gum disease. Nicotine use during adolescence has shown to impact learning, attention span and proneness to addiction,’ Mr Gitali said. He added that Side effects of the use can include irritation of the gums, sore mouth, hiccups, nausea and most importantly, Nicotine increases relapse risk with other tobacco products noting that 10 per cent warning disintegrates when subjected to scrutiny.

  • President Kenyatta Bids Farewell To Cuban Envoy Ernesto Diaz; Meets Former British PM Tony Blair

    NAIROBI, 30th September 2021, (PSCU)—President Uhuru Kenyatta today at State House, Nairobi bade farewell to Cuban Ambassador to Kenya Ernesto Gomez Diaz whose tour of duty has come to an end.

    Speaking during the brief event, President Kenyatta commended Ambassador Diaz for the deepening relations between Kenya and Cuba especially in the health sector.

    “It was a great pleasure to have had you here. You have done a lot to strengthen ties between our countries. It is through your efforts that every Kenyan knows about Cuba because of the Cuban doctors,” President Kenyatta said.

    He added: “We have done well in the health sector and we can do so in sports and other fields of human development”.

    The Head of State assured the outgoing envoy of Kenya’s continued partnership with Cuba on the global stage especially in the campaign for the lifting of international sanctions against the island nation.

    “Equally be assured of our commitment for Cuba in all international fora. Bilateral and multilateral relations are key to us as we work towards the lifting of sanctions,” the President said.

    On his part Ambassador Diaz expressed gratitude to the Government for the support he received during his tenure and assured the President of Cuba’s deep commitment to the expansion of bilateral ties between the two nations.

    He said his country will continue to offer training to Kenyan doctors pointing out that Cuban malaria experts had already arrived in Kenya, and thanked President Kenyatta for playing a crucial role in efforts aimed at lifting sanctions against Cuba.

    “We will continue with the exchange of doctors, and also appreciate your efforts towards the lifting of sanctions against Cuba,” Ambassador Diaz said.

    Separately, also at State House, Nairobi, President Kenyatta held talks with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair who paid him a courtesy call.

  • Kenya And Estonia To Defend Multilateralism On The Global Stage

    NAIROBI, 10th September 2021 (PSCU)— President Uhuru Kenyatta and visiting Estonian leader Kersti Kaljulaid have said Kenya and Estonia will partner in championing for the protection of multilateralism on the global stage.

    They said the system guarantees fairness and justice in the global stage, and vowed to use the two countries non-permanent membership on the UN Security Council to jointly advance multilateralism.

    President Uhuru Kenyatta and visiting Estonian leader Kersti Kaljulaid have said Kenya and Estonia will partner in championing for the protection of multilateralism on the global stage.


    They said the system guarantees fairness and justice in the global stage, and vowed to use the two countries non-permanent membership on the UN Security Council to jointly advance multilateralism.

    President Kenyatta and his guest spoke on Thursday evening at State House, Nairobi, during a cocktail party held in honour of the visiting Estonian leader.

    President Kenyatta said Kenya and Estonia had agreed to work together in pursuit of common goals such as regional and global peace, climate change and the gender agenda.

    “We are countries that are interested in regional and global peace, countries that are interested in seeing the multilateralism system work, countries that are interested in seeing private sector fully entrenched, creating jobs and opportunities especially for our young people,” President Kenyatta said.

    He said Kenya and Estonia had succeeded in exploiting talents and skills of their citizens to build their economies through the deployment of digital technologies.

    On her part, President Kaljulaid said she had been impressed by Kenya’s use of digital technologies in public service delivery, and advised the country to consider tightening its cyber security protocols so as to ensure that the systems are tamper proof.

    The Estonian leader said her country will partner with Kenya in pushing for global issues that affect small countries especially climate change, cyber security and peace.

    “We are actually together in the (UN) Security Council and we all know why small nations are elected to the security council. This is because we adhere to international rules and regulations,” President Kaljulaid said.

    She assured that Estonia will partner with Kenya in advocating for the enactment of laws that will ensure a safer international cyber security environment.

    “We have been pushing digital security issues at the security council because after all when we are doing digital transformation. Our sovereignty will one day depend on how our systems work,” President Kaljulaid said.

    The Estonian said her country was determined to forge a strong technology partnership with Kenya that will see the two countries share expertise in the area.

    “We have wonderful start up communities who are young and dynamic and have a saturated market, therefore we’ve turned our eyes to this continent. As leaders, what we are doing is follow our people, our businesses and that’s why the relationship between Kenya, Africa and Estonia has developed quickly,” President Kaljulaid said.

  • President Kenyatta Donates 10 Buses To Schools, Community Institutions

    NAIROBI, 10th September 2021(PSCU)-President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday at State House, Nairobi donated ten (10) buses to various secondary schools and community groups from across the country, among them Catholic Women Association of Maralal Diocese and Marafiki Football Club from Nyeri County.

    The school buses were donated to Tumutumu School for the Deaf (Nyeri County), Marifano High School (Tana River County), Achego Girls Secondary School (Kisumu County), and Olorukuti Secondary School (Narok County).

    Others were Rukanga Secondary School (Kirinyaga County) and Mnagei Secondary School (West Pokot) as well as AIC Moi Girls Maralal and Kisima Girls all from Samburu County.

    In addition to the buses, the Head of State donated 2,000 re-usable masks to each of the schools as part of Government efforts to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic.

    The brief handover ceremony was attended by several political leaders led by Senate Leader of Majority Samuel Poghisio and Samburu County MP Maison Leshoomo.

    Also present were MPs Naisula Lesuuda (Samburu West), Ali Wario (Garsen), Kanini Kega (Kieni), Ngunjiri Wambugu (Nyeri Town), James K’Oyoo (Muhoroni), Kabinga Wathayo (Mwea) and Gichuki Mugambi (Othaya) as well as teachers and students from recipient schools.

  • British tobacco giant negotiated bribe for Mugabe, new evidence reveals

    British tobacco giant negotiated bribe for Mugabe, new evidence reveals

    Former Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe attends the swearing-in ceremony of his Mozambican counterpart Armando Guebuza for a second term in office in the capital Maputo, January 14, 2010 file photo. REUTERS/Grant Lee Neuenburg

    A BBC Panorama investigation has found evidence that suggests one of Britain’s biggest companies paid a bribe to the former Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe.

    Documents show British American Tobacco (BAT) was involved in negotiations to pay between $300,000 and $500,000 to Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party in 2013.

    The documents also reveal BAT was paying bribes in South Africa and using illegal surveillance to damage rivals.

    BAT says it is committed to the highest standards of corporate conduct.

    President Mugabe’s 37-year rule was secured through elections marred by allegations of fraud and violence.

    He was ousted in 2017 and died in 2019. The ruling party Zanu PF is now under new leadership.

    In a joint investigation with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism and the University of Bath, Panorama obtained thousands of leaked documents.

    They show how BAT funded a network of almost 200 secret informants in southern Africa.

    Most of this work was outsourced to a South African private security company called Forensic Security Services (FSS).

    FSS was officially tasked with fighting the black-market cigarette trade, however, former employees have told the BBC that they broke the law to sabotage BAT’s rivals.

    The Zimbabwe connection

    Internal documents show in one operation, FSS staff were instructed to close down three cigarette factories run by BAT’s competitors in Zimbabwe.

    FSS paid a local firm to conduct surveillance on a Savanna Tobacco factory in 2012, but the company got caught.

    Three of its directors were charged in connection with the illegal surveillance. The arrests prompted the then president, Robert Mugabe, to make a speech condemning the men’s actions and BAT’s suspected involvement.

    However, Panorama has found that behind the scenes, contractors working on behalf of BAT were talking to Zimbabwean officials.

    The man who was sent in to negotiate a deal, who wishes to remain anonymous, told Panorama he bribed a number of government officials to secure a meeting to discuss the men’s case.

    He said: “I had to make it clear that they’re going to expect a nice thick envelope of notes.”

  • Politicians to sign decency charter ahead of polls, says NCIC

    Politicians will soon sign a political decency charter in latest efforts by National Cohesion and Integration Commission to tackle hate speech ahead of next year’s polls.

    The commission has vowed it will not tolerate hate speech and war mongering moving forward even as it scaled up action against offenders by ensuring they are barred from elective positions, public office and eventual black listing internationally.

    Speaking to KBC Monday on good morning show,  NCIC Chairman Rev Dr Samuel Kobia said they will hold a series of symposia before June 2022 that will hold politicians and leaders accountable as part of its roadmap towards election attaining peaceful 2022 general elections.

    Presidential candidates will be expected to lead the process dubbed ‘Election Bila Noma’ by signing the charter committing themselves to the path of peace and decency in speech and action.

    “We want a political leadership that acts in a decent and civil manner” he said.

    Although the commission is seeking more powers and tough penalties for perpetrators of incitement and hate speech through parliament, Kobia avers that progress had been made in the fight against the vice.

    “There is a bill in parliament that is still being debated and seeks to empower the commission to create a tribunal to deal with hate speech. We have also decide to work very closely with the DCI and DPP” said Kobia adding that close to 60 hate speech cases are under probe.

    So far, the commission has enhanced surveillance by creating the walls of fame and shame which according to the chair has led to a decline in the vice.

    “ No politician wants to be barred from running for an elective post. We are in the process of coming up with a criteria for determining candidates for elections. We have began consultations with IEBC, party leaders and the diplomatic community for imposition of severe penalties ”

  • Liverpool’s transfer window rated and slated: Assessing Jurgen Klopp’s summer business

    Liverpool’s transfer window rated and slated: Assessing Jurgen Klopp’s summer business

    Liverpool’s quiet summer transfer window was well documented as they look to wrestle back their Premier League crown.

    The Reds’ resources came under the spotlight last term as defensive injuries took apart their backline.

    In response Ibrahima Konate arrived from RB Leipzig but the centre-half remained the only marquee signing.

    Jurgen Klopp has been happy to prioritise continuity over fresh faces with Liverpool’s XI largely maintaining the same look for several years now.

    Critics have argued that the Reds missed a trick in not being more aggressive in the transfer market.

    The departure of Gini Wijnaldum certainly leaves a sizeable hole, but Klopp has backed youth to fill the void.

    We take a look at the club’s summer dealings.

    All three found themselves sidelined for lengthy periods which left Klopp light at the back.

    He raided the Bundesliga outfit to sign Konate, a man who had long been on his radar.

    The Frenchman looks ready made to suit the Premier League and has had Champions League exposure, which will also be a plus.

    Klopp will now have to settle on a centre-back pairing as there will be a reluctance to keep chopping and changing.

    It means Konate may find himself as a sub more often to start with before he looks to assert himself, potentially at Joe Gomez’s expense.

    Losing a player of the Dutchman’s calibre is never easy, but having to go on without a replacement just deepens the blow.

    It became apparent around the New Year that Wijnaldum was unlikely to sign a new deal but he continued to be a regular.

    Harry Wilson has already scored for new club Fulham

    Eventually he left for PSG and Liverpool opted against adding a replacement.

    Now Klopp is lucky enough to have a host of options at his disposal in the middle of the park and Harvey Elliott is set to be the big winner.

    Nevertheless, Wijnaldum has been a crucial part of Liverpool’s success and letting him go without adding someone of similar quality may prove costly.

    It was something of a double edged sword this.

    Wilson had proven at Bournemouth that he was capable of playing top flight football, having impressed on loan.

    Last season he again headed away, this time to Championship side Cardiff City, and has now moved to Fulham.

    If Wilson were going to be handed a first team run you’d have thought Klopp would’ve done so by now.

    Failing to do so perhaps suggested he was happy to look elsewhere, and getting north of £10m for him represents good business.

    The Swiss star headed to Anfield on a free and has proved to be a good squad player, so whatever decision Liverpool made was going to be a good one.

    Shaqiri’s two goals against Manchester United in 2018 will ensure he lives long in the memory of the Anfield faithful.

    The 29-year-old has moved to Lyon for just shy of £10m.

    Lyon have signed Xherdan Shaqiri ( Image: AFP via Getty Images)

    Opportunities were set to be few and far between so there was a willingness from the player to move on and the cash from his sale helped counteract the investment in Konate.

    The likes of Ben Davies, Rhys Williams and Sepp van den Berg have all headed to the Championship on loan.

    Sheffield United, Swansea and Preston have been the three teams to profit – and Liverpool will hope to do so in the long-term.

    Williams penned a new deal before he left and there may well be long-term hopes for the defender.

    Davies was signed last year but is yet to play. That said, if a loan move can increase his resale value Liverpool will consider that good business.

    The same can be said for Van den Berg, who has already scored twice in seven games.

  • Government seeking urgent evacuation of Kenyans in Afghanistan

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has Thursday confirmed that there are 12 Kenyans working for different international organizations in Afghanistan and is seeking for their urgent evacuation.

    According to MFA, this information was established through the Kenya High Commission in Islamabad, Pakistan which is the nearest Mission to Afghanistan.Through a presser to newsrooms, the MFA said that through diplomatic channels they wrote to the concerned organizations with a clear request to evacuate stranded Kenyans as a matter of urgency.

    Further, the Ministry communicated to respective foreign Missions in Nairobi where the said organizations originate to urgently intervene to ensure evacuation of the Kenyans to safety.

    As of Thursday, 19th August 2021, three (3) Kenyans have been evacuated.

    One (1) working for the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) arrived back in Kenya on Wednesday, while (2) working for Action Contre la Faim (ACF) have been evacuated.

    The two are expected back home tonight at around 9 pm.The statement in addition noted that the Government of Kenya is closely monitoring as events unfold in Afghanistan following the takeover of the capital city Kabul, by the Taliban on 15th, August 2021.“The safety of Kenyans is of utmost importance to the Government of Kenya,” the statement read in part.

    The international organizations the 12 Kenyans working for include:

    Swedish Committee – 2Supreme Audit Office (World Bank)

    – 2International Rescue Committee -1International Development Law Organization (IDLO)

    – 1Danish Committee for Aid to Afghanistan Refugees -1MEDAIR -1Action Contre la Faim (ACF)

    -2Handicap International (HI)

    -1Intersos

    -1The Government has since directed two other Kenyan Missions in Beijing and Tehran to urgently reach out to the host governments, foreign diplomatic missions, partners, and friends of Kenya for assistance in evacuating any stranded Kenyans to safety because Kenya has no diplomatic presence in Afghanistan nor accreditation to Afghanistan.

    Women with their children try to get inside Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan August 16, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES