Kenya is targeting to locally produce at least 50 per cent of essential health products by 2030 as the country moves to strengthen pharmaceutical security and reduce reliance on imports.
Cabinet Secretary for Health Aden Duale said Africa currently imports more than 70 per cent of the health products it consumes, exposing countries to supply disruptions and other vulnerabilities.
CS Duale presided over the opening session of the sixth PharmaReg AfriSummit 2026, held under the theme “Building the Bridge of Health.”
The five-day summit, convened by the Ministry of Health under the patronage of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB), brought together more than 450 healthcare professionals, regulators, pharmaceutical industry players and partners from Africa and beyond.
The summit is focused on strengthening pharmaceutical systems, expanding local manufacturing and advancing regulatory collaboration in support of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Duale said Kenya is implementing the 2026–2030 Health Products and Technologies Local Manufacturing Strategy, which seeks to increase domestic production of essential health commodities.
He noted that 13 new pharmaceutical companies have commenced operations in Kenya, with some already producing medicines and other health products for export.
The government is also strengthening regulation, surveillance and traceability of health products as Kenya works towards achieving World Health Organization (WHO) Maturity Level 3 in medicines regulation.
CS Duale noted, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board has removed more than 2,200 substandard, falsified and non-compliant products from the market.
He added that the National Track and Trace System is improving visibility and security of pharmaceutical products throughout the supply chain.
Duale said the African Medicines Agency and greater regulatory harmonisation would help reduce duplication, improve efficiency and expand access to quality-assured medicines at the continental level.
He further said the government was using the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), alongside Sustainable Development Goal 17 on partnerships, to deepen collaboration with governments, regulators, industry and development partners.
The partnerships, he said, are aimed at building stronger and more resilient health systems across Africa.
PS Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga, AfriSummit Chairperson Dr Mona Moussli, Haleon General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa Himanshu Raj, PPB Chairperson Dr John Munyu, PPB Chief Executive Officer Dr Ahmed Mohamed and Kenya Medical Supplies Authority CEO Dr Waqo Ejersa among other leaders attended the summit.
