Kenya continues to face a substantial public health burden from smoking. An estimated 12,000 adults die annually from smoking-related illnesses.

Although adult smoking prevalence has declined from 15 percent in 2000 to 8 percent in 2025, stakeholders argue that the pace of decline remains too slow to eliminate smoking-related harm within a generation.

According to the latest Path to Smoke-Free global ranking, which assesses 101 countries on their readiness to transition smokers away from combustible tobacco products, Kenya ranks 75th globally, placing it in the lower half of the index.

Kenya ranks 60th in affordability and 74th in accessibility, suggesting that many adult smokers face barriers when seeking alternatives to traditional cigarettes.

The report points to challenges around the affordability and accessibility of reduced-risk alternatives as key factors limiting Kenya’s progress.