The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has dismissed as false and misleading reports circulating on social media claiming that it plans to block over 21,000 medical products from entering Kenya.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the national medicines regulator said the claims were unfounded and intended to cause unnecessary public alarm about the availability of medicines in the country.
“The Board has noted with concern a misleading press statement on social media alleging that the Board intends to ‘block over 21,000 medical products’ from being imported into Kenya, which supposedly places the country ‘on the brink of a medicines crisis’,” PPB stated.
“This claim is false, misleading, and intended to cause unwarranted public anxiety.”
PPB assured Kenyans that there is no blockade of medicines in the country, adding that the supply of medical products remains stable and secure.
According to the Board, about 9,000 registered medical products currently meet both national and international standards for safety, efficacy, and quality — and these continue to be available for local manufacture, importation, and distribution.
“Contrary to these falsehoods, there is no blockade of medicines in Kenya,” the Board reiterated. “The Board has duly retained approximately 9,000 registered medical products that meet national and international standards for safety, efficacy, and quality.”
PPB clarified that what is currently underway is a routine renewal of product authorizations, as required under the Pharmacy and Poisons (Registration of Health Products and Technologies) Rules, 2022.
The process, which mandates renewal every five years, ensures that only products that meet current global quality and safety benchmarks remain available in the Kenyan market.
“All marketing authorizations are subject to renewal every five years,” PPB explained. “This renewal process enables the Board to confirm that only products meeting current international standards of quality, safety, and efficacy remain on the Kenyan market.”
Following consultations with key stakeholders, the regulator has directed all owners of registered medical products to renew their authorizations by 31 December 2025.
PPB emphasised that this is not a ban or restriction on medicines but a standard regulatory measure aimed at protecting public health and ensuring continued access to safe and effective medical products.
The Board further noted that its ongoing efforts to curb the circulation of illegal, unauthorized, falsified, and substandard medicines have faced resistance from certain cartels and individuals keen on maintaining illicit trade within the sector.
“The Board wishes to inform the public that its ongoing efforts to eliminate illegal importers and to remove unregistered, unauthorized, falsified, and substandard products from the market are meeting resistance from a few unscrupulous individuals and cartels seeking to protect their vested interests,” the statement read.
PPB reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of Kenya’s pharmaceutical sector, urging the public, healthcare professionals, and the media to rely solely on its official communication channels for accurate regulatory updates.
“The Board will continue to communicate transparently and work collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure sustained access to safe, quality, and effective medical products for the people of Kenya,” PPB concluded.
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