The Ministry of Health has announced a crackdown on pharmaceutical distributors as part of efforts to eliminate substandard and illegal medicines from the market.
Speaking on Wednesday, November 26, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale directed the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) to intensify regulatory enforcement.
"The Cabinet Secretary for Health, Aden Duale, has issued firm directives to the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) to intensify regulatory enforcement and protect the health of all Kenyans," the ministry said in a statement.
Duale directed the board to act immediately, insisting that the market must be cleared of unsafe and illegal pharmaceuticals.
"Duale called on the PPB to immediately remove substandard, falsified, poor-quality, counterfeit, and unregistered medicines from the market and to prosecute individuals, directors, or entities involved in their distribution or sale," the statement added.
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Duale also demanded strict adherence to established regulatory requirements governing pharmaceutical products and professional practice.
"He emphasised strict compliance with the Pharmacy and Poisons (Parallel Imported Medicinal Substances) Rules of 2019, ordered an end to the illegal leasing of professional licences, and directed full implementation of bioequivalence requirements to ensure generics perform like innovator products," the statement further read.
Duale warned that regulatory officials who fail to carry out their duties will face consequences.
He said any compromise or negligence by PPB inspectors will invite administrative, disciplinary, or legal action, signalling a firm stance on internal accountability alongside industry compliance.
Duale also recognised ongoing institutional efforts aimed at strengthening Kenya’s pharmaceutical oversight systems.
"The CS also recognised the Board’s efforts towards achieving World Health Organization (WHO) Maturity Level 3, noting that this milestone is critical for strengthening regulatory oversight, boosting investor confidence, opening markets, and supporting Kenya’s local pharmaceutical manufacturing ambitions," the ministry said.
Along with enforcement, the government plans to address staffing shortages that have affected regulatory work.
"To address staffing gaps, he announced the approval to hire 45 additional officers under the World Bank-supported Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience Project, with further recruitment under discussion with the National Treasury," the ministry confirmed.
Elsewhere, this comes a week after PPB issued a warning to Kenyans after a series of fraudulent job offer letters began circulating online, targeting unsuspecting jobseekers.
In a notice on Wednesday, November 19, the agency noted that scammers are impersonating PPB and using fake correspondence to solicit personal information and money from victims.
PPB clarified that these deceptive messages are not connected to the agency in any way, and Kenyans are urged to ignore them and avoid sharing any sensitive details.
"The Pharmacy and Poisons Board warns the public about fraudulent job offer letters circulating online and requesting personal information or money. These messages are not from the Board. Do not share your details or make any payment," the notice read.
PPB encouraged immediate reporting of any suspicious activity to help curb the scam and protect potential victims.
"Report any suspicious activity immediately to law enforcement or through email: [email protected]/[email protected] and telephone: 0709 770 100," the notice added.
