A Nairobi resident has moved to court to force the government to put an end to producing, supplying and consuming tobacco and its products.
Ibrahim Mohamud Ibrahim on Friday moved to court where he faulted the government for allowing tobacco in the country regardless of its effects on health.
Ibrahim whose petition was filed under a certificate of urgency has sued the Ministry of Health and its Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki, and the Attorney-General in a suit in which cigarette maker British American Tobacco (BAT) company is listed as an interested party.
Ibrahim claims that tobacco continues to put the health of Kenyans at risk of cancer and other illnesses that are caused by smoking.
He claims that the economic interest of tobacco products on revenue for the government should not override the health of the public.
“The petitioner challenges the holding of tobacco as a legal commodity available for exploitation and consumption by the public in blatant disregard of the effects of growing, consuming, selling and use,” said his lawyer George Kithi.
Besides banning producing, supplying and consuming tobacco and its products due to its health risks, Ibrahim also wants the government to declare that cancer is a national disaster, which requires special administrative action which includes banning cigarettes.