Nairobi, April 29 -- BAT Kenya wants the State to spare the new non-combusted cigarettes from higher 'sin tax' as tobacco manufacturers begin to lobby against heavy taxation following a year of reprieve.

The government has already indicated that it intends to harmonise excise tax across all cigarette products, raising the prospect of higher taxes on filtered burnt cigarettes as well as non-combusted tobacco products such as nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes.

However, BAT Kenya, which is listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, is calling for a differentiated excise duty, commonly known as sin tax, on tobacco products based on their risk.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Crispin Achola, managing director at BAT Kenya, requested the...