Kenyans’ Choice: Vaping vs. Traditional Smoking
Kenya doesn’t seem to be on the verge of quitting tobacco smoking anytime soon. WHO reported that in 2014, the number of cigarette sticks smoked in the country amounted to over 8 billion. Despite the government’s launch of anti-tobacco mass media campaign and enactment of stringent anti-smoking rules the figure was a significant rise from 2013’s 6.4 billion sticks. The studies revealed that about 19% of men smoke tobacco while 2% of the women in the country do (the figures on women being however inaccurate due to women withholding from disclosure owing to socio-cultural inhibition).
The nation however seems to have embraced technology even with regard to its smoking. A Euromonitor report on smoking in Kenya suggested that smoking of flavoured tobacco (shisha) and e-smoking is on the rise. The Kenyan market for e-cigarettes proves ready with the establishment of major brands in the country. Smoking e-cigarettes, a phenomenon that is increasingly gaining popularity the world over (now with competitions being centred around the activity), is believed to be less harmful than smoking the traditional cigarettes since they contain no tobacco, carbon or tar. Most smokers who have shifted from smoking ordinary cigarettes to the e-cigarettes, site most satisfaction in the fact that the e-cigarettes do not have the distinctive smell that accompanies cigarettes.
How does this ‘digital’ smoking work? E-cigarettes, are battery-operated products designed to deliver nicotine, flavor and other chemicals. They turn chemicals, including nicotine present in traditional cigarettes, into an aerosol that is inhaled by the user. Most e-cigarettes are manufactured to look like conventional cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Some resemble everyday items such as pens and USB memory sticks. These cigarettes glow at the end while smoking and the user puffs out a cloud of what resembles smoke but is really vapor from the vaporization of the liquids mix in the e-cigarette. Smoking e-cigarettes is therefore referred to as vaping.
The vapor released from smoking has not been found to be harmful to either user or bystander. Critics have posited that e-cigarettes are geared at attracting non-smokers but studies reveal that the cigarettes are mostly used by those who smoke. It is argued that allowing the cigarettes to compete alongside traditional cigarettes might cut back tobacco related illnesses.
Vaping might offer a safer option of enjoying the recreational drug nicotine. Whether this is accurate or not, the trend is one that has taken grip among Kenyans.
