NAIROBI, Monday, Aug 24 — Half of Kenyan consumers who use nicotine pouches and vapes say the products help them quit smoking, while nearly one in three say they would return to cigarettes if flavoured products were banned, according to a new survey.

📻 Breaking It Down

The findings come as Parliament considers the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill, which proposes new restrictions on smoke-free nicotine products, including a ban on most flavours.

The survey, conducted by the Campaign for Safer Alternatives (CASA), found that 50 per cent of respondents use nicotine pouches or vapes to help them quit smoking, while 47 per cent said they use the products because they consider them a less harmful alternative to cigarettes.

CASA Chairman Joseph Magero said the findings should prompt lawmakers to reconsider measures that could make it harder for smokers to move away from combustible cigarettes.

📌 What You Need to Know

“Our findings show that the proposed legislation could make it harder for smokers to quit combustible cigarettes. Lawmakers must listen to the voices of smokers who are trying to leave cigarettes behind,” Magero said.

The survey also highlighted the role of flavours in helping some users move away from cigarettes.

Half of respondents said flavours help them stay off cigarettes entirely, while 43 per cent said flavours help them reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke.

Only 14 per cent identified tobacco flavour as their preferred option, with most respondents opting for menthol, fruit or other non-tobacco flavours.

Asked how they would respond if flavoured nicotine products were banned, 32 per cent said they would return to smoking, while 18 per cent said they would smoke more.

A further 33 per cent said they would seek flavoured products through alternative sources.

📰 Source: Capital FM Kenya