Mary Muthoni, the Principal Secretary for the State Department of Public Health in Kenya, is now at the center of a major scandal.
On May 21, 2025, it is alleged that she wrote an official letter endorsing British American Tobacco (BAT) as a “strategic health partner.” This move has raised serious concerns about her integrity and judgment, especially given her position as a top official in the Ministry of Health.
Many people believe that by supporting a company known for selling harmful products like cigarettes, Muthoni has betrayed the trust of the public and violated the laws meant to protect them.
Kenya has had strict rules on tobacco control for years. The Tobacco Control Act of 2007 clearly bans partnerships between the government and tobacco companies. This law is in line with international guidelines under the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
The goal has always been to reduce tobacco use and protect people’s health, especially children and young people. Mary Muthoni has in the past taken credit for leading campaigns to cut smoking rates in Kenya.
In fact, data from the Ministry of Health shows that smoking rates dropped from 22.6% in 2015 to 11.6% in 2022.
But now, her decision to publicly praise BAT seems to directly go against those very efforts.The backlash on social media has been intense.
Kenyans on X (formerly Twitter) have been using the hashtag #MaryMuthoniRESIGN to demand her resignation. Many users are calling her out for allegedly putting corporate interests above public health.
Posts from popular accounts have shared screenshots of what appears to be the endorsement letter and photos of Muthoni with captions like “In bed with BAT,” accusing her of selling out to the tobacco industry.
Others have pointed out that BAT has a history of interfering with public health policy and using its influence to water down tobacco regulations in Kenya.This scandal also raises questions about who else in government may be working with tobacco companies.
In the past, BAT has been accused of using its financial power to gain favors and weaken tobacco laws in Kenya. If Mary Muthoni truly endorsed BAT, then she may have opened the door to more interference, making it harder for Kenya to protect its citizens from the harmful effects of tobacco.
It also sends the wrong message to the public, especially to the over 650,000 children aged 10 to 17 in Kenya who are reported to be using tobacco or nicotine products.
So far, Mary Muthoni has not given any public explanation. The Ministry of Health has also remained silent, which has only made things worse. People are demanding accountability. Many believe that she should step down immediately and be investigated for breaking the law.
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