The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has firmly rejected claims that it blocked over 21,000 medical products from entering Kenya, insisting that drug supply across the country remains uninterrupted. The regulator dismissed the allegations as misleading, false, and intended to cause unnecessary fear among the public.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the PPB was responding to concerns raised by the Kenya Pharmaceutical Distributors Association (KPDA). The association had previously alleged that system changes introduced by the board to meet World Health Organisation (WHO) audit standards had disrupted medicine imports and risked creating a nationwide health crisis.
According to the PPB, no import ban exists. It clarified that around 9,000 registered medical products that comply with national and international standards remain approved for local manufacture, importation, and distribution. “Contrary to the falsehoods, there is no blockade of medicines in Kenya,” the board stated.
The regulator explained that the ongoing review of medical product registrations is part of a routine exercise mandated under the 2022 Pharmacy and Poisons Rules. These rules require renewal of marketing authorisations every five years to ensure that only products meeting current international standards for quality, safety, and efficacy remain in circulation.
“All authorisation holders were notified to complete renewals by December 31, 2025,” the board said, emphasizing that the measure is standard practice and not a restriction or ban.
The PPB further alleged that some “unscrupulous individuals and cartels” opposed to stricter oversight were behind the spread of misinformation, motivated by their own interests rather than public health concerns. Despite this resistance, the board reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the integrity of Kenya’s pharmaceutical sector and protecting the health of all citizens.
To prevent confusion, the PPB urged the public, healthcare workers, and the media to disregard false reports circulating online. It stressed that official communication channels of the board remain the only credible source of information on pharmaceutical regulations.
By addressing the allegations directly, the PPB sought to reassure Kenyans that medicine imports and distribution are running smoothly and that tighter oversight will ultimately strengthen the country’s healthcare system.
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