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"id": 234593,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/234593/?format=api",
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"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Dr. Kibunguchy",
"speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister for Health",
"speaker": {
"id": 294,
"legal_name": "Enoch Wamalwa Kibunguchy",
"slug": "enoch-kibunguchy"
},
"content": " Thank you, Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir. Before I was interrupted, I was listing some of the objects and purposes of the Bill. The fourth area that we want to cover in this Bill is to inform, educate and communicate to the public the harmful, health environmental, economic and social consequences of growing, handling, exposure and the use of tobacco and tobacco products and to smoke. Fifthly, we want to protect the rights of non-smokers to live in a smoke-free environment; to protect and promote the interest of tobacco growers by progressively phasing out tobacco growing and providing alternative crops; and to promote rehabilitation and sessional programmes for consumers of tobacco. The Government of Kenya signed and ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in June, 2004. The principles of this treaty are captured in this Tobacco Control Bill. This allows Kenya to discharge her obligations and rights under international law. It sets the minimum and our efforts to domesticate the treaty should not go below the minimum set by FCTC. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, in the proposed amendments, the highlights consist of November 15, 2006 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 3715 inclusion of farmers. This is a very important constituency whose rights and health concerns have been largely ignored in the past. In this proposed Bill, their health shall be protected and policy on alternative cropping shall be promoted. Those who wish to replace the tobacco products shall also be assisted. The fact is that most farmers would rather that they did not plant tobacco because they have experienced, first-hand, the negative health, environmental and economic effects of growing tobacco. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the second area is legislation for public education on the dangers of tobacco and this will include specific studies in schools curricula. This will ensure that the public receives the correct information and in a timely fashion. This will ensure that any decisions being made regarding tobacco production and use is based on true and correct information. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, thirdly, it outlaws the sale of tobacco and its products to and by minors. Children, when exposed to tobacco and its products early in life, stand the danger of getting addicted and thus growing up imprisoned by nicotine. In the process, the longer they are exposed to tobacco and its poisonous chemicals, the higher their chances of dying prematurely. The fact is that if you start smoking early, you get sick sooner and may therefore die much faster than a non-smoking colleague. Our children need our protection and this Bill provides it in adequate measures. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, the fourth item is that it provides guidance on the sale of cigarettes only in packets of 20 sticks. This serves to restrict access by minors and the youth resulting in fewer smokers in the long-run. It also protects the very poor from unfair exposure to disease-causing products. The desired effects will be that the poor will also smoke less and thus have less chance of getting sick. Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, fifth, it also legislates for prominent and factual warning signs on all packets and packages of tobacco products in the principle displayed surfaces. This ensures that a clearer and more focused message is sent to the smoking and non-smoking public alike. The 50 per cent requirement for the size of this warning is within the minimum limit of the FCTC. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, sixth, it separates smokers from non-smokers by setting up clearly marked smoking areas. The principle here is to separate tobacco smoke from the majority of Kenyans who are non-smokers. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, seventh, it completely bans advertising, promotion and censorship and this is an avenue used to misinform; especially the youth. Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, eighth, it sets up the Tobacco Control Fund which will ensure that a dedicated budget is available to meet the objectives of this Bill. The Bill is designed to promote health and not meant to be a punitive measure against those who smoke or use other tobacco products. That is a very important message that I would like to be passed to the House and the general public. This Bill's main aim is to promote health and not to be punitive to either the smokers or the people who are in the tobacco industry."
}