NAIROBI, Monday, Aug 24 — Half of Kenyan consumers who use nicotine pouches and vapes say the products help them quit smoking, while nearly one in three say they would return to cigarettes if flavoured products were banned, according to a new survey.The findings come as Parliament considers the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill, which proposes new restrictions on smoke-free nicotine products, including a ban on most flavours.The survey, conducted by the Campaign for Safer Alternatives (CASA), found that 50 per cent of respondents use nicotine pouches or vapes to help them quit smoking, while 47 per cent said they use the products because they consider them a less harmful alternative to cigarettes.CASA Chairman Joseph Magero said the findings should prompt lawmakers to reconsider measures that could make it harder for smokers to move away from combustible cigarettes.“Our findings show that the proposed legislation could make it harder for smokers to quit combustible cigarettes. Lawmakers must listen to the voices of smokers who are trying to leave cigarettes behind,” Magero said.The survey also highlighted the role of flavours in helping some users move away from cigarettes.Half of respondents said flavours help them stay off cigarettes entirely, while 43 per cent said flavours help them reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke.Only 14 per cent identified tobacco flavour as their preferred option, with most respondents opting for menthol, fruit or other non-tobacco flavours.Asked how they would respond if flavoured nicotine products were banned, 32 per cent said they would return to smoking, while 18 per cent said they would smoke more.A further 33 per cent said they would seek flavoured products through alternative sources.The survey also found strong support for greater public participation before the proposed legislation is finalised.About 88 per cent of respondents said the Government should hold consultations on the Tobacco Control Bill that are open to the public, while a similar proportion said the concerns of smokers and nicotine-product users were being ignored.Meanwhile, 89 per cent said policymakers should focus on helping smokers quit rather than banning flavoured nicotine pouches.Magero said the findings demonstrated the importance of considering consumers’ experiences when developing tobacco-control policies.“Thousands of Kenyan smokers are using alternative nicotine products because they want to leave cigarettes behind. Half of respondents say these products are helping them quit, while many others are using them to smoke less,” he said.He said removing flavours could make alternative nicotine products less attractive to smokers seeking to move away from cigarettes.“When half of respondents tell us flavours help them stay off cigarettes entirely, policymakers should pay attention,” Magero said.Joseph Magero, chairman of the Campaign for Safer Alternatives (CASA).He added that the survey’s findings should serve as a warning to Parliament, particularly given the number of respondents who said they would return to smoking or seek flavoured products through alternative sources if a ban was introduced.Magero urged lawmakers to consult consumers before finalising the Bill.“Close to nine out of ten respondents want the Government to listen before changing the law. These are the people living with the consequences of smoking and trying to quit. Their voices deserve to be part of this debate,” he said.