Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir has called for the introduction of a targeted tax on imported sugar, aiming to curb rising diabetes and other lifestyle-related illnesses in Kenya.
The governor unveiled the proposal during the Health Integration Summit 2026 in Shanzu, highlighting the need to link public health policies with fiscal measures to tackle the growing health burden.
The summit, which convened national and county health leaders, was attended by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, alongside development partners and public health experts.
Governor Nassir, who also chairs the Council of Governors Committee on Health, warned that counties are facing a sharp increase in patients with diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic conditions linked to high sugar consumption and shifting dietary habits.
He emphasized that the rise in diabetes is placing mounting pressure on county hospitals, which manage long-term treatments such as dialysis, cardiovascular care, and other complications. “If we continue on the current trajectory, non-communicable diseases will become one of the biggest financial pressures on our health system,” Nassir said.
To address the problem, Nassir proposed imposing a tax specifically on imported sugar. He argued that such a measure would not only help reduce consumption but also generate a sustainable revenue stream that could support treatment and prevention programs for non-communicable diseases.
The governor suggested that funds from the tax be ring-fenced and managed through the Social Health Authority (SHA) as a dedicated line for counties. “Counties are where the real burden of these diseases is managed. Our hospitals treat the complications and our clinics diagnose and manage patients. It is therefore logical that part of the revenue generated from products contributing to these illnesses should support care at the county level,” he said.
Nassir pointed out that similar approaches have been adopted in other countries to discourage harmful consumption patterns while simultaneously financing health services, stressing that Kenya could benefit from a similar model to strengthen county-level health systems.