NAIROBI, Kenya, June 23 – Traders in Nakuru have called on Parliament to suspend deliberations on the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill and conduct nationwide public participation, arguing that those likely to be affected by the law have been excluded from the process.
The traders, under the Bars, Hotel and Liquor Traders Association of Kenya (BAHLITA), said the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Health is currently engaging selected stakeholders in Nairobi, leaving out traders and business owners across the country.
They warned that some proposals in the Bill, particularly a planned ban on flavoured nicotine and tobacco products, could encourage illicit trade and reduce government tax revenues.
BAHLITA Secretary General Boniface Gachoka said public participation is a constitutional requirement and should not be limited to a few stakeholders.
“Public participation is not a courtesy that Parliament extends when convenient. It is a constitutional obligation. When traders, the very people whose businesses will be affected by this law, are excluded from the process, that is an affront to a right guaranteed to every Kenyan under the Constitution,” he said.
The traders cited Articles 10 and 118 of the Constitution, which require Parliament and other state organs to facilitate public participation in decision-making and legislative processes.
They argue that banning flavoured nicotine and tobacco products could drive consumers toward untaxed and unregulated alternatives, creating opportunities for illicit traders while hurting legitimate businesses.
According to the association, the move could undermine compliant traders, reduce tax collections and lead to business closures within the hospitality and retail sectors.
The group is urging lawmakers to organise structured public participation forums across the country, collect views from affected stakeholders and demonstrate how those submissions have been incorporated into the final legislation.
The concerns mirror objections raised during Senate consideration of the Bill last year, when players in the bars and entertainment industry also called for broader consultations before the proposed amendments were advanced.
