By Ken Muthomi - Reporter
Kenya , May 12, 2026 - President William Ruto has assured that his administration is ramping up efforts to enhance the country’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity.
Speaking on Tuesday, the Head of State said that the government is taking steps to enhance the capacity of Kenya’s National Regulatory Authority to attain the World Health Organisation’s Maturity Level 3 certification.
Ruto is confident that the move will position the country as a regional hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing, health innovation, and medical supply chains, serving both the Kenyan and the wider African markets.
Africa’s strong and expanding domestic market, world-class logistics, and dynamic investment environment create ideal conditions for Kenya to thrive in the sector, according to the President.
The president revealed this during the Africa Initiative for Medical Access and Manufacturing (AIM2030) meeting ahead of the opening of the Africa Forward Summit, Nairobi.
“I called on African governments to fully implement commitments on regulatory harmonisation, market integration and industrial policy in order to unlock Africa's manufacturing potential,” he added.
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The announcement comes two weeks after the Pharmacy and Poisons Board executed major reforms in the country’s health products manufacturing sector in a bid to strengthen the quality and efficiency of the country’s healthcare system.
Among the reforms are new measures to support local manufacturers through preferential fees and expedited evaluation timelines of between three and six months.
The Board’s Acting CEO, Ahmed Mohamed, also revealed that the board is in the process of implementing mandatory renewal of marketing authorisations, intended to ensure that only compliant products remain on the Kenyan market.
The CEO revealed this on April 24 during a meeting with the Indian High Commissioner to Kenya, Adarsh Swaika, which aimed to discuss how the two countries can collaborate to regulate Health Products and Technologies (HPTs) in the country.
The two sides also stressed the need for reinforcing other oversight mechanisms, including the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) inspections for manufacturing sites to maintain the integrity of the country’s pharmaceutical supply chain.