This archive report was first published on 4 October 2019.
On October 4, 2019, four non-governmental organisations urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to sign the Finance Bill 2019, which increases excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco from 15 to 21 per cent.
The International Institute of Legislative Affairs (IILA), Non-Communicable Disease Alliance, Alcohol Control Policy Network, and Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance argued that the signing of the Bill would reduce health-related costs caused by alcohol and tobacco use.
According to Emma Wanyonyi of IILA, the key is to balance the economic contributions of the industry against the health costs at the individual and national level.
By increasing excise taxes, the organisations hope to discourage the use or abuse of alcohol and tobacco products.
