[Intl-tobacco] Kenya: Remove BAT logo from president's pavilion, team told (fwd)

[Robert Weissman]

Remove BAT logo, team told
by EUNICE NYAROCHE
Source: The East African, Wednesday, 4/11/01

Mombasa District Commissioner Reuben Rotich yesterday ordered the
Agricultural Show Committee to remove a tobacco firm's logo from the
President's pavilion.

He said said the British American Tobacco (BAT) emblem and an adjoining
advert implied that the Government advocated smoking.

The DC warned: "This suggests that the Government supports smoking. The
President is a non-smoker and such a logo should not be displayed on the
pavilion."

He pledged to encourage corporations like the Kenya Ports Authority to
sponsor reconstruction of a new pavilion.

Addressing members of the show committee at his office, Mr Rotich thanked
the companies supporting the show but warned them to adhere to the
recommended standards.

He told the BAT he was not opposed to their sponsorship, only that he was
not comfortable with the positioning of their logo.

Show treasurer D.M. Mwandawiro said BAT had spent more than Sh300,000 in
constructing the presidential dais.

"BAT has spent a lot of money on the showground and we should not offend
them," the treasurer said, adding, nevertheless, that the committee would
approach the tobacco company to make the changes ordered by the DC.

Meanwhile, Mr Mwandawiro said the committee needed Sh4 million to host the
show.

"We collected Sh5 million at the gates last year but shared it with
headquarters. We intend to collect the same amount or even more this year,
depending on the number of exhibitors."

The committee had approached about five foreign exhibitors with the
request to participate in the show.

Mr Mwandawiro said the show had saved about Sh300,000 from the transport
budget last year following support by the Government in transporting
livestock to the show.

He urged exhibitors to start preparing early for the fair, saying some
waited until the eleventh hour to start working on their stands.

The treasurer said the committee had spent a lot of money on transporting
livestock from various districts to the show.

At the same time, the DC warned exhibitors to ensure their display
commodities are relevant to the locals to improve regional farming.

This is the first time the committee is organising the show, having taken
office in January this year. The show starts at the end of August.

The DC urged the committee members to forget the wrangling that occurred
during the elections to ensure the show succeeds.


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