Updated 11 July 2008
Health Minister Charity Ngilu signed a legal notice on 13th May 2006 banning smoking in public places. However, the courts blocked attempts to enforce the nationwide ban on grounds that the government did not give tobacco firms enough compliance time and would force them to destroy millions of dollars worth of their products.
The Tobacco Control Act was passed in parliament in 2007 but given a nine-month implementation period. It provides a legal framework to control the production, manufacture, sale, advertising and use of tobacco products. The ban defines "public places" as offices, working areas, court buildings, educational institutions, residential areas, places of worship, police stations, prisons, markets, malls, cinemas and theatres, children's homes and playing fields. Smoking is still allowed in designated smoking areas.
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