Kenya today marked a pivotal turning point in its industrial and health security agenda, endorsing a bold shift from dependence on imported pharmaceutical products to a nationally anchored manufacturing ecosystem. This transformation agenda dominated the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Investors’ Breakfast in Nairobi, themed “Paradigm Shift: From Importation to Local Manufacturing of Pharmaceutical Products.” Delegates from government policy makers, pharmaceutical manufacturers and health sector stakeholders aligned on one message: Kenya must produce more of what it consumes to create jobs and grow the economy.
Speaking during the event, the Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry, Hon. Lee Kinyanjui, reiterated the government’s firm commitment to supporting local pharmaceutical manufacturing, stating: “We will work closely with the Ministry of Health to ensure uptake of locally produced products, timely payment, and the removal of any regulatory or legal barriers that hinder growth in this sector.” He further emphasized the centrality of localization to Kenya’s economic strategy, noting: “Our role as a ministry is to spur economic growth. No country can thrive through imports alone.”
The urgency of this paradigm shift is underscored by Kenya’s over reliance on imported medicines, currently accounting for more than 70% of its supply. This import dependency fuels foreign exchange pressure, exposes the market to fluctuating global pricing, increases vulnerability to supply disruptions, and inflates healthcare costs. Principal Secretary for Investment Promotion, Abubakar Hassan Abubakar, affirmed that shifting toward local manufacturing is a strategic necessity for job creation, export competitiveness, and health system resilience. He added that Kenya is aiming to meet at least 60% of its domestic medicine demand through local production, supported by targeted incentives, Special Economic Zones and policy realignments.
“There is a need to resolve the challenges facing the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry to fully unlock its potential. By addressing high import costs, financing gaps, technology transfer barriers, and regulatory hurdles, we can strengthen local production, create jobs, save foreign exchange, and enhance access to quality healthcare. Through targeted incentives, supportive policies, and collaboration with manufacturers, Kenya is positioning itself as a regional and continental leader in healthcare innovation and manufacturing” said State Department for Medical Services PS, Dr. Ouma Oluga.
Addressing the financial bottlenecks hindering localized manufacturing, the Kenya Development Corporation (KDC) announced a decisive measure to explore long-term financing and equity investment vehicles tailored to pharmaceutical sector realities. KDC Director General, Norah Ratemo emphasized that the manufacturing industry requires patient capital to thrive. With this financial and policy realignment, KDC issued a strong invitation to existing and prospective investors, to submit applications for equity and debt financing targeting priority areas that would quickly scale Kenya’s pharmaceutical capacity. The shift is intended to secure Kenya’s pharmaceutical value chain, reduce import dependence, and position Kenya as the region’s manufacturing and logistics backbone.
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In reinforcing the shift, the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK) declared that a country that cannot produce essential medicines “cannot secure its population.” The PSK President Dr. Wairimu Njuki called for Kenya to treat medicines as strategic assets just like food security, energy supply, and defence, urging a shift from dependency to investable, innovation-driven production. Leveraging its EPIC pillars – Education, Policy, Innovation, Collaboration; the Society committed to strengthening workforce preparedness, regulatory consistency, technology adoption, research, and quality-driven investment partnerships.
“Kenya’s objective is aligned with Africa’s call to produce at least 60% of its vaccines locally by 2040. At BioVax, we are turning this goal into action; building the capabilities, partnerships, and technologies that will position Kenya as a regional biotechnology hub” reiterated Dr. Wesley Rono, CEO BioVax.
The meeting concluded with a united resolve: Kenya’s pharmaceutical future must be built locally, competitively, and collaboratively. With clear policy direction, investable financing pathways, regulatory alignment, and a health-industry coalition, Kenya is transitioning from buyers to manufacturers and from dependency to sovereignty. The paradigm is shifting. The industry is opening. Kenya is choosing production as the path to economic growth, job creation, and national resilience.
