CS Health Directs PPB to Strengthen Regulatory Enforcement and Protect Public Health

Nairobi, Kenya - 26 November 2025 - Health Cabinet Secretary Hon Aden Duale has directed the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) to ensure full compliance with the law and take decisive regulatory action against any individual or entity that endangers the health and safety of Kenyans.

During his inaugural visit to the Board, CS Duale called for the immediate removal of all substandard, falsified, poor-quality, counterfeit, and unregistered medicines from the Kenyan market, emphasising that any individuals, premises, or entities involved in their distribution or sale must be arrested and prosecuted. He further stressed that parallel importation must strictly comply with the Pharmacy and Poisons (Parallel Imported Medicinal Substances) Rules, 2019, and instructed the Board to intensify surveillance to end the illegal leasing of licences.

The visit reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to strengthening its regulatory framework as the country works toward attaining World Health Organization (WHO) Maturity Level 3 (ML3) for health products and technologies. CS Duale held constructive discussions with the PPB leadership on addressing existing challenges and implementing sustainable solutions for Kenya’s Taifa Care Model. He urged the team to uphold transparency, accountability, and integrity, as enshrined in Chapter Six of the Constitution, while fostering an enabling environment for effective service delivery.

The Cabinet Secretary highlighted measures to protect Kenyans, including ensuring that the Social Health Authority (SHA) will not reimburse any medicine that is not certified by PPB. He also noted that a track-and-trace system is being introduced to monitor medicines from source to the last mile.

Addressing staff, Hon. Duale reiterated the Government’s commitment to the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which places healthcare at the centre of national development. Through BETA, the Government is strengthening Universal Health Coverage, improving access to essential medicines, and expanding local pharmaceutical manufacturing to enhance health outcomes and drive economic growth.

CS Duale was hosted by PPB leadership, led by Board Chairperson Dr. John Munyu, and accompanied by Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Ms. Mary Muthoni.