The government has launched a tough crackdown on individuals and businesses selling substandard medical products, following a directive issued by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Wednesday, November 26.
Speaking during a briefing, Duale instructed the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) to urgently sweep the market and remove all falsified, counterfeit, poor-quality and unregistered medicines, warning that no one putting the lives of Kenyans at risk would be spared.
Duale said anyone involved in supplying illegal medical products must be arrested, prosecuted and barred from operating in the sector. He further directed that all seized products be destroyed and any premises found stocking them shut down.
“Any individuals, premises, establishments or entities involved in the distribution or sale of these illegal products must be arrested and prosecuted,” he said. “Action must be taken not only against those in charge of the premises but also against their directors.”
To tighten oversight, Duale ordered a reassessment of all medical products currently in the Kenyan market to verify their authenticity and ensure they meet safety standards.
He also addressed concerns over the unlawful practice of leasing professional licences to unqualified people within the pharmaceutical sector, calling it a serious violation of public trust.
“Leasing professional licences to unqualified persons is unlawful and a serious breach of public trust. I therefore direct you to intensify surveillance and stop this practice with immediate effect,” he said.
The CS issued a stern warning to PPB inspectors, noting that any negligence or compromise in their duties would attract administrative, disciplinary or even legal action against them individually.
To boost the Board’s regulatory capacity, Duale announced that 45 additional officers will be recruited to address chronic understaffing. The new staff will be hired under the World Bank-funded Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience Project.
“The Pharmacy and Poisons Act gives you a clear mandate and clear powers,” Duale emphasized. “I expect you to use them fully without fear or favour. Regulatory enforcement is not optional.”
The directive comes at a time when concerns over fake and substandard medicines continue to rise, posing a major threat to public health and undermining trust in Kenya’s healthcare system.
