Kenya proposes health promotion levy on sugary beverages to curb lifestyle diseases
The new tax proposal targeting sugar-sweetened drinks seeks to promote healthier choices and fund national health and school feeding programmes.
KENYA – Kenya’s Nandi Hills Member of Parliament, Bernard Kitur, has proposed the introduction of a Health Promotion Levy on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in an effort to address rising cases of non-communicable diseases in the country.
The proposal was presented on 10 May 2025 before the National Assembly’s Finance Committee during the ongoing public hearings on the Finance Bill 2025. The move seeks to amend the Excise Duty Act by introducing a new tax structure targeting sugary drinks.
Kitur highlighted the link between excessive sugar consumption and serious health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, noting that the increasing availability and intake of sugary beverages have played a significant role in the health challenges affecting many Kenyans.
“To mitigate this public health crisis, we propose the introduction of the Health Promotion Levy in the soft drinks industry,” Kitur stated. “This levy aims to reduce sugar consumption, encourage healthier product reformulation, and generate revenue to support public health programmes.”
Under the proposed levy, locally manufactured sugary beverages containing more than 4 grams of sugar per 100 millilitres will be taxed Kes 1 (US$0.0077) for every extra gram per 100ml. Imported sugary beverages exceeding the same sugar threshold will be charged Kes 2 (US$0.015)per excess gram per 100ml.
However, the proposal exempts beverages such as fruit juices with no added sugar and dairy-based drinks containing at least 75% milk content from the levy.
According to Kitur, the funds collected through the levy would be allocated to public health campaigns and school feeding programmes, aimed at enhancing nutrition and health awareness across the country.
Kitur emphasized that the initiative would not only improve the health outcomes of Kenyans but also encourage manufacturers to adopt healthier product formulations.
If passed, Kenya would join other countries such as South Africa, which introduced a similar tax in April 2018 to combat lifestyle-related diseases.
The Kenyan Parliament is now reviewing the proposal as part of the broader discussions on the Finance Bill 2025.
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