Kenya's neighbours have already banned smoking in public places

Director of Medical Services (DMS) James Nyikal says tobacco taxes will also be increased by 15%.

He said tobacco kills some 12,000 Kenyans each year and that banning smoking in bars, churches and sport stadia would reduce that figure.

He said that Kenya spends five times more treating health problems from smoking than it raises in tobacco tax.

Health officials also urged Kenya's tobacco farmers to switch to other crops.

Urgent need

Mr Nyikal said that the Tobacco Control Bill 2004 was being examined to ensure that it did not conflict with existing legislation.

"There is an urgent need to increase tax on tobacco in the next financial year and the money will be used to treat the sick and educate Kenyans," he said.

Some 8,000 Kenyan smokers die each year, while some 4,000 are killed by the secondary effects of tobacco smoke, he said.

Some five million Kenyans smoke.

Neighbouring Uganda banned public smoking last year but the ban is not strictly enforced, reports the AFP news agency.