Are snus and nicotine pouches legal in Kenya?
Nicotine pouches are legal in Kenya but tightly contested: BAT's VELO is the only pouch lawfully on sale (relaunched in 2025 after regulatory clarity, currently imported from Pakistan), health warnings in English and Kiswahili are required under the Tobacco Control Act 2007, and the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill 2024 before the National Assembly would classify pouches as tobacco products and ban flavours. Tobacco snus is legal as a tobacco product (18+, warnings, excise). The government announced an immediate ban on imports of all tobacco and nicotine products on 30 July 2025, though licensed imports have since resumed. Travellers may bring 250 g of tobacco or snuff duty-free.
Eastern Africa
Kenya at a glance
| Nicotine pouches (tobacco-free) | Tobacco snus | |
|---|---|---|
| Sale to adults | Legal with restrictions | Legal |
| Possession and use | Legal | Legal |
| Personal import (mail order, bringing in) | Allowed with limits | Allowed with limits |
| Online sale inside the country | Allowed | Allowed |
| Regulated | as a nicotine product (own category) | as a tobacco product |
| Minimum age | 18 | 18 |
| Nicotine strength cap | No legal cap found | No legal cap found |
| Flavours | No flavour restrictions | No flavour restrictions |
| Excise tax | Yes | Yes |
| Legal basis | Tobacco Control Act 2007 (health warnings, sale to minors); Ministry of Health approval of VELO warning labels (2021-2024); Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill 2024 pending | Tobacco Control Act 2007 and Tobacco Control Regulations 2014 |
| In force since | 1 January 2019 | – |
Medium confidence: Based on consistent secondary sources; primary text not yet verified. Research tier 1. How we verify.
Nicotine pouches in Kenya
Legal, 18+, only VELO licensed; bill pending.
GSTHR: pouches legally allowed including sale, online purchase and use; health warnings required, health claims banned, cap reported as under 16.6 mg per pouch (source: Anti-Smoking Global Index, unverified). History: BAT launched Lyft in 2019 under a pharmacy licence, which was withdrawn in 2020; the Ministry of Health later agreed (2021-2024) to a small warning label allowing Velo's return; MPs called for a ban in Oct 2023. In July 2025 the Health Cabinet Secretary announced an immediate ban on importing tobacco and nicotine products and suspended licences pending re-application; by March 2026 BAT Kenya had resumed Velo sales on 'regulatory clarity', importing from Pakistan. Velo is the only pouch legally available; other brands are smuggled. The Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill 2024 would classify pouches as tobacco products, ban flavours, expand graphic warnings and add retailer licensing.
Tax: GSTHR reports excise on pouches at 10-50 percent of the cigarette rate and a levy of KES 0.02 per pouch; KRA rate not verified against the Excise Duty Act.
Sources: Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR), Tobacco Reporter, Tobacco Reporter, Tobacco Reporter, Tobacco Reporter, Tobacco Reporter
Tobacco snus in Kenya
Legal, 18+, warnings and excise.
GSTHR: snus legally permitted (sale, purchase, use); health warnings required, health claims banned, no flavour restrictions. Tobacco Control Laws (2021): sale of tobacco to under-18s prohibited; no restrictions on internet sales. The July 2025 import ban covered smokeless tobacco; licensed imports have since resumed. Swedish-style snus has little retail presence; traditional kuber/chewing tobacco is common.
Tax: GSTHR: excise on snus set at more than 50 percent or equivalent to cigarettes; specific KES rate not verified.
Sources: Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR), Tobacco Reporter, Tobacco Control Laws (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids)
Bringing snus or nicotine pouches into Kenya
| For personal use | Allowed Cigarettes, cigars, cheroots, cigarillos, tobacco and snuff not exceeding 250 g in total per passenger, within the USD 2,000 personal concession. Nicotine pouches: no specific customs rule. |
| Declaration | Unclear |
| Penalties | No specific penalty information found. |
KRA passenger terminal clearance FAQ. The July 2025 ministerial import ban targeted commercial imports and licences; its application to travellers' personal quantities was not specified.
Full travel guide: can you bring snus and nicotine pouches to Kenya?
Buying snus and pouches in Kenya
- Nicotine pouches sold in shops: Yes
- Tobacco snus sold in shops: No
- Brands commonly seen: VELO
Pending and proposed changes
- Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill 2024 before the National Assembly: would classify e-cigarettes and oral nicotine pouches as tobacco products, ban flavours, expand graphic warnings, possibly require plain packaging, add retailer licensing and a 100 m sales buffer from schools. Expected: 2026. Status: proposed.
Frequently asked questions
Are nicotine pouches legal in Kenya?
Yes, but only BAT's VELO is lawfully on sale, with a ministry-approved health warning; other brands are smuggled. A pending amendment bill would treat pouches as tobacco products and ban flavours.
Is snus legal in Kenya?
Yes. Snus is a tobacco product under the Tobacco Control Act 2007: sale to under-18s is banned, health warnings are required and excise applies. It is rarely sold.
How much snus or tobacco can I bring into Kenya?
Up to 250 g in total of cigarettes, cigars, tobacco and snuff per passenger, duty-free, within the USD 2,000 personal concession.
Did Kenya ban nicotine pouches in 2025?
The Health Cabinet Secretary announced an immediate ban on importing all tobacco and nicotine products on 30 July 2025 and suspended licences. BAT resumed VELO sales by early 2026 after receiving regulatory clarity, importing the product from Pakistan.
Nearby in the atlas
- Algeria – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
- Angola – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
- Benin – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
- Botswana – pouches no specific rule found, snus legal with restrictions
- Burkina Faso – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
- Burundi – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
- Cameroon – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
- Cape Verde – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
- Central African Republic – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
- Chad – pouches no specific rule found, snus no specific rule found
Where are nicotine pouches legal?Where is snus legal?Strength limits by countryAge limits by country
Sources
- Smoking, vaping, HTP, NRT and snus in Kenya – Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR) (NGO / research; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“Snus is legally permitted in Kenya, allowing its sale, purchase, and use. [...] In Kenya, nicotine pouches are legally allowed, including their sale, online purchase, and use. There are no restrictions on the range of their flavours. However, some restrictions still apply: health warnings on packaging are required, health claims are not permitted”
- BAT's Velo Pouches Back on Market in Kenya – Tobacco Reporter (Trade press, 3 March 2026; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“BAT Kenya resumed sales of its Velo oral nicotine pouches following regulatory clarity [...] With local manufacturing divested, Velo is currently imported from Pakistan”
- Kenya Bans All Tobacco and Nicotine Imports – Tobacco Reporter (Trade press, 1 August 2025; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced the ban before parliament on July 30, 2025 [...] The ban applies to all tobacco categories, including cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and vaping products”
- Kenya Relaxes Pouch Health Warnings – Tobacco Reporter (Trade press, 24 January 2024; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“The ministry agreed to let BAT sell Velo with a small warning stating, "This product contains nicotine and is addictive." [...] Velo is the only nicotine pouch legally available in Kenya, though other brands are smuggled in illegally.”
- Kenya Wants to Ban BAT Nicotine Pouches – Tobacco Reporter (Trade press, 9 October 2023; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“The Kenyan Tobacco Control Act (KTCA) states that all packaging of nicotine pouches and tobacco products must contain warnings in English and Kiswahili.”
- BAT Kenya Says Proposed Laws Threaten 100K Jobs – Tobacco Reporter (Trade press, 26 May 2026; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“The proposed legislation includes bans on flavors in tobacco and nicotine products, tighter regulation of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, expanded graphic warning requirements, potential plain packaging rules [...] BAT Kenya also objected to plans to classify electronic cigarettes and oral nicotine pouches as tobacco products”
- Kenya: Legal summary – Tobacco Control Laws (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids) (NGO / research, 11 November 2021; accessed 4 September 2026) ✓ verified
“However, there are no restrictions on the sale of tobacco products via the internet or based on location. The sale of tobacco products is prohibited to persons under the age of 18.”
- Passenger terminal clearance in Kenya (FAQ) – Kenya Revenue Authority (Customs; accessed 4 September 2026) , not re-verified
“Cigarettes, cigars, cheroots, cigarillos, tobacco and snuff not exceeding in all 250 grammes in weight”
Record last verified 4 September 2026. Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us and we will re-check the source.