At Stowelink Foundation, we believe that investing in people is one of the most effective ways of advancing public health. We are therefore proud to celebrate the participation of our Chief Programs Officer, Oduor Kevin, in the Tobacco Industry Monitoring, Research and Accountability (TIMRA2026) programme hosted by the Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG) at the University of Bath, United Kingdom.
The prestigious international programme brought together tobacco control researchers and advocates from around the world with a shared goal of strengthening global capacity to monitor, investigate, and expose tobacco industry activities that undermine public health policies. Oduor represented Kenya among a select group of participants, demonstrating the growing recognition of Kenya’s contribution to global tobacco control efforts.
Building Skills to Hold the Tobacco Industry Accountable
The Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG) is internationally recognised for its commitment to supporting researchers, advocates, and policymakers in understanding and responding to tobacco industry interference. Through TIMRA2026, participants were equipped with practical skills and investigative approaches that support the implementation of effective tobacco control policies in line with the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).
The programme focused on strengthening participants’ ability to investigate tobacco industry strategies, identify conflicts of interest, document industry interference, and generate credible evidence that can inform advocacy and policy action.
Participants also gained hands-on experience with digital monitoring tools and investigative techniques that are increasingly important in today’s rapidly evolving information landscape.
Sharing Kenya’s Experience
Beyond participating in the training, our Chief Programs Officer had the opportunity to present one of Stowelink Foundation’s flagship tobacco control initiatives—the Tobacco Industry Interference Digital Watch Initiative (TIIDWI).
The presentation highlighted the project’s journey, including its objectives, implementation approach, key milestones, successes, and the challenges encountered while monitoring tobacco industry interference in Kenya. The session provided an opportunity to showcase how digital tools and youth-led advocacy can strengthen transparency and accountability in tobacco control.
Sharing Kenya’s experience also enabled meaningful exchange with fellow participants from different countries, creating opportunities to learn from diverse contexts while contributing valuable lessons from the Kenyan tobacco control landscape.
Bringing Global Knowledge Back Home
Participation in international learning programmes is most valuable when the knowledge acquired is translated into local action.
Following the training, the skills gained during TIMRA2026 are already being applied within Stowelink Foundation’s work. The programme has strengthened our capacity to design evidence-informed tobacco control interventions, improve monitoring of tobacco industry interference, and enhance our research and advocacy approaches.
Importantly, the knowledge has not remained with one individual. Shortly after returning to Kenya, our Chief Programs Officer facilitated a practical training session for approximately 40 youth tobacco control advocates during the Youth Champions Training on Systematic Monitoring of Tobacco Industry Interference, organized by the Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance (KETCA). Participants were introduced to practical investigative tools including Google Advanced Search, Google Alerts, Wayback Machine, LinkedIn investigations, and PhotoVoice, enabling them to systematically monitor and document tobacco industry activities.
This reflects Stowelink Foundation’s commitment to cascading knowledge and ensuring that investments in leadership development create broader impact across Kenya’s tobacco control community.
Strengthening Future Tobacco Control Initiatives
The knowledge and networks established through TIMRA2026 will continue to strengthen our work across multiple areas, including:
- Systematic monitoring of tobacco industry interference.
- Digital investigation and evidence generation.
- Research to support policy advocacy.
- Youth capacity building in tobacco control.
- Strategic communication and accountability initiatives.
- Implementation of WHO FCTC recommendations within Kenya.
As tobacco industry tactics continue to evolve, organizations must equally strengthen their capacity to identify, document, and respond to emerging threats to public health. The skills acquired through TIMRA2026 will support Stowelink Foundation in developing more innovative, evidence-based interventions that contribute to protecting current and future generations from the harms of tobacco.
Our Appreciation
We extend our sincere gratitude to the Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG) at the University of Bath for investing in advocates and researchers from low- and middle-income countries. By equipping public health professionals with practical monitoring, research, and accountability skills, TCRG is making a significant contribution to strengthening global tobacco control and advancing implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
At Stowelink Foundation, we remain committed to translating global knowledge into local action. We look forward to applying the lessons from TIMRA2026 to strengthen tobacco control research, advocacy, and policy implementation in Kenya while contributing to regional and global efforts to hold the tobacco industry accountable.
Together, we can build a healthier, tobacco-free future through evidence, collaboration, and informed advocacy.