Kenya Sets Ambitious Course to Boost Local Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Kenya has announced a bold plan to reduce its heavy dependence on imported medicines and significantly expand the capacity of local pharmaceutical manufacturing.

The announcement was made during the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Investors’ Breakfast in Nairobi, themed “Paradigm Shift: From Importation to Local Manufacturing of Pharmaceutical Products.”Speaking at the event, Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry, Lee Kinyanjui, reaffirmed the government’s intention to strengthen local production by collaborating closely with the Ministry of Health.

He emphasized that supporting domestic manufacturers through timely payment, regulatory reforms and product uptake is central to Kenya’s economic growth strategy.According to the Ministry, Kenya currently imports more than 70% of its medicines, a situation that strains foreign exchange reserves, heightens vulnerability to global supply disruptions, and raises healthcare costs.

Principal Secretary for Investment Promotion, Abubakar Hassan, noted that the government is targeting a shift toward meeting at least 60% of national medicine demand through local production, backed by Special Economic Zones and policy incentives.State Department for Medical Services PS, Dr. Ouma Oluga, stressed the need to resolve existing challenges—such as high import costs, financing gaps, technology transfer hurdles and regulatory delays—in order to fully unlock the industry’s potential.

He highlighted that local manufacturing would create jobs, enhance healthcare access, and strengthen national resilience.To address the financing bottlenecks faced by local manufacturers, the Kenya Development Corporation (KDC) announced plans to introduce long-term financing and equity investment options tailored for the pharmaceutical sector.

KDC Director General Norah Ratemo explained that sustained investment and patient capital are essential for expanding Kenya’s pharmaceutical capacity.The Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK) also voiced support for the shift, with President Dr. Wairimu Njuki warning that a nation unable to manufacture essential medicines cannot fully protect its population.

She called for the sector to be treated as a strategic pillar of national security, noting the Society’s commitment to advancing education, policy, innovation and collaboration through its EPIC framework.Meanwhile, the CEO of BioVax, Dr. Wesley Rono, stated that Kenya is aligning its ambitions with Africa’s continental goal of producing 60% of its vaccines locally by 2040.

He said BioVax is already building partnerships and technical capacity to position the country as a regional biotechnology hub.By the conclusion of the meeting, government agencies, manufacturers and health stakeholders expressed a unified commitment to steering Kenya from import dependence toward a competitive, locally driven pharmaceutical industry.

The shift, they said, is expected to boost economic growth, strengthen supply chains, and enhance national health security.