Kenya is stepping up efforts to expand local pharmaceutical manufacturing as the government seeks to reduce the country’s dependence on imported medicines and strengthen health security.
Speaking at the sixth PharmaReg AfriSummit 2026 in Nairobi on September 28, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said Kenya’s 2026–2030 Health Products and Technologies Local Manufacturing Strategy targets producing at least 50% of essential health products locally.
The push comes as Kenya continues to rely heavily on imports for medicines and other health products. The Ministry of Health has identified local manufacturing as important for improving supply security, supporting access to medicines and developing Kenya into a regional manufacturing hub. The government has previously estimated the country’s pharmaceutical supply gap at about 70%.
There are signs of increased investment in the sector. The Pharmacy and Poisons Board said in August that 13 pharmaceutical manufacturers were progressing toward establishing production facilities in Kenya. The companies include Kenya BioVax Institute, Biopharma Limited, Regal Pharmaceuticals, KEMRI’s production facility and Galaxy Pharmaceuticals, among others.
The government is also working to strengthen the regulatory environment. Kenya is pursuing WHO Maturity Level 3 for its pharmaceutical regulatory system, while digital traceability systems are being introduced to improve visibility across the medicine supply chain and help combat substandard and falsified products.
In June 2026, Kenya launched the Health Products and Technologies Local Manufacturing Strategy 2026–2030, which provides a broader roadmap covering medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and medical devices. The strategy focuses on regulatory reforms, expanding manufacturing capacity, strengthening demand for locally produced products and attracting investment.
Kenya is also pursuing international partnerships. In July, the Ministry of Health said Japan had committed to mobilising KSh3 billion to support Kenya’s local vaccine manufacturing agenda through the State Department for Medical Services and KEMRI.
If implemented successfully, the strategy could have implications beyond healthcare by creating manufacturing jobs, supporting technology transfer and opening opportunities for Kenyan pharmaceutical companies to serve regional African markets.
The broader objective is to move Kenya from being heavily dependent on imported health products toward a stronger domestic and regional pharmaceutical manufacturing base.
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