The Ministry of Health has revoked the operational license of a Chinese cigarette company located along Mombasa Road, Nairobi, after the unlawful importation of tobacco.
The Ministry, in conjunction with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), conducted an operation in the firm on March 25 and found that the firm reportedly imported 1,716 cartons containing 11 different unlawful tobacco brands.
In the document seen by Kenyans.co.ke, four out of the 11 tobacco brands nabbed by government officials were missing from the Ministry of Health’s database.
After the investigation, the firm's manager was issued a formal letter, notifying them of the company's license revocation and outlining the reasons for the withdrawal of the operating permit.
"Four brands were not found in the MoH database. Upon further evaluation, all 11 brands were found to violate the Tobacco Control Act 2007 and Tobacco Control Regulations 2014," the notice read in part.
"The purpose of this letter is to inform you that all clearance letters issued to your company earlier authorizing the importation of the tobacco products are hereby withdrawn/canceled and recalled with immediate effect," the letter issued by Tobacco Control Board Secretary Anthony Wainana revealed.
The revocation of the license comes barely two months after the government cautioned the firm against importing tobacco products that did not comply with the regulations.
According to Wainana, despite the warnings to the company, the firm continued importing the illicit products.
"You are advised to ensure that tobacco and nicotine products imported into the country are compliant with the regulations," the previous warning read in part.
"Note that the clearance can be withdrawn without prior notice if the products imported are found to be non-compliant," the previous warning continued.
Following the revocation, the Commissioner General, Kenya Revenue Authority, was informed of the withdrawal of the import clearance.
Apart from the revocation of the licenses, the DCI detectives also apprehended two Chinese nationals in connection to the company.
