Kenya Hosts High-Level Namibian Delegation for Benchmarking Visit on Tobacco Control

Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, today hosted a high-level delegation from the Republic of Namibia, visiting Kenya for a benchmarking study tour on tobacco and nicotine product control.

Kenya’s strong progress in tobacco control — including effective smoke-free policies, impactful graphic health warnings, and a globally recognized track-and-trace system for tobacco and nicotine products — has positioned the country as a regional and international leader in advancing public health measures. These achievements have continued to attract recognition and inspire countries seeking effective frameworks for tobacco control.

The Namibian delegation is in Nairobi to learn from Kenya’s successful implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), with a focus on strengthening tax systems, improving monitoring mechanisms, and combating illicit tobacco and nicotine products.

During their visit, the delegation will:

* Engage with Kenya’s leading public health and regulatory experts

* Visit the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to study Kenya’s robust track-and-trace system

* Interact with institutions supporting enforcement and oversight of tobacco and nicotine products

PS Mary Muthoni welcomed the team warmly, reaffirming the importance of regional collaboration and knowledge exchange in strengthening public health systems across Africa.

“We value this opportunity for mutual learning,” she said, expressing appreciation to the World Health Organization (WHO) for supporting this important knowledge-sharing initiative.

Kenya remains committed to promoting effective tobacco control and contributing to global efforts to reduce tobacco-related harm.