By Victoria Musimbi…
In the heart of Nairobi’s Eastlands, a new generation of advocates is rising—young people who are not only surviving the effects of tobacco use but speaking out to prevent others from falling into the same trap. Their voices, grounded in lived experience and empowered by data, are reshaping how Kenya fights one of its most persistent public health threats.
A Personal Crisis That Sparked a Mission
Kelvin Mwachilimu, 24, never imagined that smoking would nearly cost him his life. The digital marketer and data annotator from Huruma, Nairobi, started smoking as a teenager out of curiosity and peer pressure. What began as experimentation escalated into addiction during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In 2020, I had to drop out of university in my second year because of financial problems,” Kelvin recalls. “I returned home, idle and uncertain about my future. That’s when smoking found its way back into my life.”
At the height of his addiction, Kelvin was smoking up to six cigarettes a day. By December 2021, his health had deteriorated dramatically. He developed severe symptoms: persistent coughs, rapid weight loss, difficulty breathing, and even coughed up blood. After being diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB), worsened by his smoking habit, Kelvin was put on a strict treatment regimen.
“I was in denial at first,” he says. “But when the doctor told me I could die if I didn’t stop smoking, that was a wake-up call.”
Kelvin completed treatment with the support of his family and has remained smoke-free since. Today, he channels his story into advocacy, warning others, especially youth, about the dangers of tobacco use.
“I now use my story to educate others,” he says. “Smoking nearly killed me, but I survived, and I want others to avoid the same mistake.”
Training the Next Generation of Advocates
Kelvin is among more than 30 youth, community journalists, and people affected by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) who participated in a one-day training on April 28 at Nomads Paradise Hotel in Eastleigh. The workshop, organized by the Den of Hope Youth Group in collaboration with the Kenya Tobacco and Nicotine Tax Coalition (KTNTC), focused on building communication and media skills for tobacco control advocacy.
The training was timely, coming a month ahead of World No Tobacco Day, observed globally on May 31. It aimed to equip young advocates with the tools to tell compelling, evidence-based stories that influence public opinion and policy.
“By empowering community journalists to tell stories that highlight the dangers of tobacco—and root those stories in data—we can shift conversations and drive support for stronger policies,” said Rachel Kitonyo Devotsu, a tobacco control veteran with over two decades of experience.
Rachel facilitated the training on behalf of Development Gateway, which is currently developing a Tobacco Control Dashboard for Kenya. The platform is expected to provide policymakers and advocates with easy access to vital data on smoking prevalence, tax structures, cessation services, and the cost burden of tobacco-related diseases.
Rachel, who also works with the Union for International Cancer Control, noted that a significant push is underway in both Kenya and Uganda to build coalitions advocating for higher tobacco taxes.
The Case for Higher Tobacco Taxes
Data remains a central weapon in the fight against tobacco. According to a 2022 study by Development Gateway, for every one dollar Kenya earns in tobacco revenue, it spends two to three dollars treating tobacco-related illnesses. Lung cancer treatment alone can cost up to KES 2.3 million per patient, often forcing families to shoulder the financial burden.
“Tobacco is the only legal product that kills half of its users when used exactly as intended,” Rachel emphasized. “We must act—not just for public health but for the economic well-being of the country.”
Despite only 8% of Kenyan adults aged 15 to 45 being smokers, the ripple effects of tobacco use impact everyone. Over 12,000 Kenyans die each year from tobacco-related causes. Public hospitals strain under the pressure of NCD cases, and caregivers lose valuable income and productivity. The national economy loses an estimated USD 500–750 million annually due to these preventable illnesses.
“Taxation is not just about revenue,” Rachel said. “It’s about saving lives and protecting our economy.”
Local Action, National Impact
The Den of Hope Youth Group, based in Eastleigh Airbase within Kamukunji Sub-County, has long addressed social challenges such as drug abuse, HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence, and youth unemployment. Its latest mission—tobacco control—demonstrates the power of grassroots action.
“We want our communities to understand that tobacco and nicotine are deadly products,” said William Odhiambo, Director of Den of Hope. “Data shows that increased taxation is the most effective way to reduce tobacco use, especially among young people.”
Odhiambo emphasized that the training is designed to equip participants with strategic messaging, media engagement techniques, and advocacy storytelling tools, particularly for informal urban settlements where enforcement of tobacco laws is often weakest.
“That is why we are urging the public to support higher tobacco taxes—for the sake of both smokers and non-smokers, for the health of our communities, and for the financial stability of our country,” he said.
Building a Movement, One Story at a Time
Kelvin’s story is not an isolated one, and neither is his resolve to make a difference. Alongside other youth advocates trained by Den of Hope and KTNTC, he is now part of a growing national movement that places people, not just policies, at the center of tobacco control.
“We can’t afford to ignore the damage tobacco is doing,” Kelvin says. “But with the right tools, training, and support, we can make a difference.”
As Kenya marks World No Tobacco Day, these young voices offer a sobering reminder: community-driven advocacy, grounded in lived experience and empowered by data, may be the country’s most powerful tool yet in the fight against tobacco.
