Should the Government resume annual taxation on tobacco?

Celine Awuor As the budget process for 2019/2020 gets underway, it is important to tax tobacco products. Tax and price measures are the most effective tobacco control strategies due to their potential to discourage initiation, encourage quitting of tobacco use and generate revenue for governments. Article 6 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tcobaco Control, requires parties to implement tax policies and, where appropriate, price measures on tobacco products so as to contribute to the health objectives of the treaty. This requirement is domesticated in the Tobacco Control Act, 2007. Tobacco taxation is, therefore, an obligation for achieving public health goals. Notably, in 2015, Kenya made the greatest development in this regard through the Excise Duty Act, 2015, which introduced a uniform specific and high excise for all cigarettes. This led to a significant increase in cigarette prices by up to 20 per cent on some brands. Within two years of implementing these reforms, achievements reported included a drop of 17 per cent in consumption of cigarettes and an increase in revenue by approximately Sh3 billion, from Sh9 billion to Sh12 billion. That is why it is necessary that this financial year attention be paid to tobacco taxation, precisely by returning the single tax tier and at a higher rate. Adoption of this proposal will be a double score for government by contributing to reduction in the Non-communicable diseases burden while increasing Government revenue that would support financing the Big Four agenda’s Universal Health Coverage programme. Let us make tobacco taxation matter again.  Ms Awuor is Programmes Officer, International Institute for Legislative Affairs