IILA Kenya CEO, Emma Wanyonyi. [Photo/ncdalliance.org]
Kenya's tobacco industry has been accused of arm-twisting the Executive and Legislature in an effort to influence legislation aimed at regulating the industry.Lobby groups, in a meeting held in Nairobi, said that most projects undertaken by the industry were possible because huge bribes were paid.A study under the auspices of the International Institute for Legislative Affairs (IILA) has revealed the Imara Daima Estate was aimed at making former President Moi happy.According to the study, the industry is working behind the scenes to influence legislation, policy, and litigation.“It is established from this study that the Tobacco Industry, both local and global, armed with their financial power and political connections, will go any distance to achieve their principal objective of profit maximisation; whether detrimental to consumers’ health or not.'' IILA CEO Emma Wanyanyi said, according to a story by the People Daily.The study comes hot on the heels of a disturbing revelation by the Tobacco Control Board that young girls in urban areas are smoking shisha.