Members of Parliament are now urging the government to prohibit the sale of Velo brand nicotine packets in Kenya because it is highly addictive.
Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakumicha was put on the spot during her appearance before the National Assembly to answer various questions. Susan Nakhumicha was tasked to explain how the addictive tobacco drug ended up in Kenya despite her predecessor recalling a similar product, Lyft, from the Kenyan market.
Nominated MP Sabina Chege brought two cans full of Velo pouches into the National Assembly chamber to demonstrate the highly addictive narcotic widely available in the local market.
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The Health CS said Velo is imported from Hungary and distributed by BAT Kenya Limited throughout the country.
"British American Tobacco (BAT) Kenya PLC is a licensed tobacco product manufacturer in Kenya and has attempted to manufacture nicotine pouches in Kenya, but this has yet to begin." Because there is no local manufacturer of nicotine pouches in the country, all nicotine pouches are imported," explained the CS.
Susan Nakhumicha said that the Ministry has already established regulatory procedures to limit the sale of Velo, which is classified as a tobacco product under the Tobacco Control Act of 2007.
"Why would we permit the importation of an addictive drug from Hungary into Kenya...?" "We should reconsider the decision, and this (Velo) should be banned until it is thoroughly investigated, so that we can save our generation and young people," Sabina Chege proposed.
The Health CS stated that the Ministry would form a technical team to examine the Tobacco Act 2007 and make recommendations.
"If Madam Speaker declares that Velo be removed from the market as a ministry of health, we will be ecstatic because we will have saved the lives of many Kenyans." "However, we are all relying on the Tobacco Act of 2007," the CS explained.
"We have put together a technical team to review the Tobacco Act, 2007, and they shall be bringing it to the house," she added.
