The new Tobacco published regulations have been received with mixed reactions as the government resorts to efforts to curb tobacco smoking.
Among the regulations is that requiring the manufacturers to disclose all ingredients used in the making of the cigarettes.
Also, manufacturers will contribute 2 per cent of the value of products to a compensation fund. This will be used in the controlling of tobacco smoking in the country which involves guiding and counseling services.
The regulations further suggested that there be no selling of cigarette sticks but instead be sold only in packs, something that has elicited many reactions among the users and vendors of the cigarettes.
Vendors are also expected to sell only products that display the harmful effects of the products in the packs.
Some of the users however argue that when they buy the cigarettes in packs they will smoke more.
“I buy 3-4 sticks daily in an effort to help me reduce the intake of cigarettes since the urge keeps coming and if I now buy a full packet, I will be forced to smoke all of it without my conscience,” says Evans Ngugi, a smoker.
Vendors are also opposed to the bill that seeks only to sell cigarettes in packs alone.
“Most of our customers are low-income earners and this will make it hard for them to purchase a packet of cigarette,” says Jane Morio, a vendor.
The regulations are expected to take effect as from the 26th September this year.