Nairobi, Kenya | African Pharmaceutical Review

Kenya has unveiled the Kenya Health Products and Technologies Local Manufacturing Strategy 2026–2030, a five-year roadmap designed to strengthen domestic production of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and medical devices while reinforcing the country's regulatory systems to ensure the quality, safety and efficacy of locally manufactured health products.

The strategy was officially launched on 23 June 2026 by Dr. Ouma Oluga, Principal Secretary for Medical Services, in collaboration with government agencies, industry stakeholders and development partners.

The initiative aligns with President William Ruto's continental agenda as the African Union Champion for Local Manufacturing, which seeks to accelerate pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity across Africa and enhance the continent's health security and self-reliance.

Building on a Strong Pharmaceutical Base

Kenya is already one of Africa's leading pharmaceutical manufacturing hubs. The country is the third-largest exporter of pharmaceutical products in Africa and the largest supplier within the COMESA region, accounting for nearly half of the regional pharmaceutical market.

Currently, more than 37 licensed pharmaceutical manufacturers produce 694 medicine formulations, supplying both the domestic market and neighbouring countries, including Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Somalia. Pharmaceutical exports have grown significantly, rising from KES 12.2 billion in 2022 to KES 19.9 billion in 2024, representing a 63% increase over two years.

A notable milestone was achieved when Universal Corporation Limited became the first African manufacturer to receive WHO prequalification for a lifesaving antimalarial medicine.

Reducing Import Dependence

Despite these achievements, Kenya continues to import approximately 70–80% of the pharmaceuticals consumed locally. The country's health products market is valued at around USD 1.2 billion annually, with more than USD 760 million spent on imported products.

Local manufacturers currently produce only about 20% of medicines listed on Kenya's Essential Medicines List, while operating below half of their installed manufacturing capacity.

The new strategy aims to address these gaps by increasing utilisation of existing manufacturing capacity to 70% by 2030, supporting manufacturers to attain internationally recognised Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, and introducing longer-term procurement commitments to encourage greater supply to Kenya's public healthcare system.

Strengthening Vaccine Manufacturing

The strategy also prioritises vaccine production. Earlier this year, Kenya joined the WHO–Medicines Patent Pool mRNA Technology Transfer Programme, through which the Kenya BioVax Institute is developing local manufacturing capacity for vaccines targeting COVID-19, malaria, tuberculosis and other priority diseases.

Regulatory Strengthening at the Core

Recognising that sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing depends on strong regulatory oversight, the strategy includes plans to strengthen the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) towards achieving WHO Global Benchmarking Tool Maturity Level 3, an internationally recognised indicator of a robust regulatory authority.

Kenya is also implementing a National Action Plan on Substandard and Falsified Medical Products, following the establishment of an Interministerial Steering Committee to coordinate national efforts against poor-quality and counterfeit medicines.

According to the World Health Organization, approximately one in ten medical products in low- and middle-income countries is either substandard or falsified, posing significant risks to patient safety and public confidence in health systems.

A Milestone for Africa's Pharmaceutical Industry

The strategy represents a significant step towards strengthening Kenya's pharmaceutical manufacturing ecosystem while supporting broader continental efforts to improve access to quality-assured medicines.

By expanding local production, improving regulatory capacity and encouraging investment in pharmaceutical innovation, Kenya aims to enhance healthcare resilience, create skilled jobs and position itself as a regional leader in pharmaceutical manufacturing.