IILA represented by CEO, Celine Awuor, participated in a high-level forum convened to examine a recently released investigative report revealing a $28 million tax discrepancy involving British American Tobacco (BAT) Kenya. The event, hosted in collaboration with Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG), The Investigative Desk, and Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA), drew experts and civil society advocates in public finance, health, and tax policy.

The forum provided a platform for in-depth discussion on corporate tax evasion practices, the tobacco industry’s influence on regulatory systems, and the broader implications of illicit financial flows on public health financing. Stakeholders examined the mechanisms behind the tax shortfall, including profit shifting and potential regulatory loopholes that allow multinational corporations to avoid their fiscal responsibilities.

IILA underscored the urgent need for enhanced fiscal accountability, transparent enforcement mechanisms, and robust legislation to ensure tobacco companies contribute their fair share to national revenue. The forum also highlighted the importance of allocating recovered revenues to health systems, tobacco control programs, and preventive care—especially in light of Kenya’s increasing burden of non-communicable diseases.

This engagement aligns with IILA’s longstanding commitment to corporate accountability, public interest legislation, and evidence-based fiscal advocacy. It also marks a critical step in rallying stakeholders toward tax justice and sustainable financing for health development in Kenya and across Africa.