Despite a ban on the sale of single sticks, the majority of smokers in Kenya (82%) last purchased cigarettes in loose (single) form rather than in packets.
The sale of single sticks is prevalent in many countries, especially low- and middle-income countries.
Even though section 18(1) of the Tobacco Control Act prohibits the sale of cigarettes, except in packages containing at least 10 cigarettes, single sticks are still readily available in many parts of the country.
Single sticks are affordable to the youth and others with limited resources as they are perceived to be cheaper than buying an entire pack.
At the same time, traders prefer to sell single sticks as they are more profitable than selling whole packs. In 2019, a pack of 20 Sportsman cigarettes (the most popular discount cigarette brand) cost Ksh 150 whereas a single stick cost Ksh 10.Reports also indicate that stalls sell single cigarettes within a 250-meter radius of primary schools across the country, in violation of section 15(1) and section 16(1) of the Tobacco Control Act.
Roughly 80% of these stalls fail to post warning signs prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to people under the age of 18.
