By Faith Museng’ya
September 28, 2026
Kenya is strengthening local pharmaceutical manufacturing to reduce dependence on imported health products and improve access to medicines and other essential health supplies.
Speaking during the opening of the sixth PharmaReg AfriSummit 2026, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the government was working to increase local production and strengthen the country’s pharmaceutical sector.
Duale said Africa currently imports more than 70 per cent of the health products it uses. He added that about 85 per cent of pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities on the continent are concentrated in only eight countries.
He said Kenya is implementing the 2026–2030 Health Products and Technologies Local Manufacturing Strategy, which aims to increase the production of essential health products within the country.
Under the strategy, Kenya aims to produce at least 50 per cent of its essential health products locally.
“Thirteen new pharmaceutical companies have commenced operations, with some already manufacturing for export,” Duale said.
The CS said increasing local production would help Kenya reduce its dependence on imported health products while supporting the growth of the pharmaceutical industry.
He also said the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) was strengthening market surveillance to ensure that health products available in the country meet the required standards.
According to Duale, the regulator is also working to improve Kenya’s pharmaceutical regulatory system towards World Health Organization (WHO) Maturity Level 3.
The maturity level measures the effectiveness of a country’s regulatory system for medicines and other health products.
Duale said more than 2,200 substandard, falsified and non-compliant health products had been removed from the Kenyan market as part of efforts to protect the public.
The measures come as African countries continue to seek ways of improving access to safe and quality medicines and strengthening their health systems.
The developments were announced during the five-day PharmaReg AfriSummit 2026, which brought together more than 450 health professionals, regulators, pharmaceutical industry representatives and other partners from Africa and beyond.
The summit is being held under the theme “Building the Bridge of Health.”
The meeting is focusing on pharmaceutical regulation, local manufacturing and Universal Health Coverage.
Other officials attending the summit included Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga, AfriSummit Chairperson Dr Mona Moussli, Haleon General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa Himanshu Raj and Pharmacy and Poisons Board Chairperson Dr John Munyu.
Also present were PPB Chief Executive Officer Dr Ahmed Mohamed and Kenya Medical Supplies Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr Waqo Ejersa, among other delegates.
The government says strengthening local pharmaceutical production and regulation will help improve the availability of quality health products while supporting Kenya’s efforts to build a more resilient health system.
