Kenya halts parallel importation of medicines in crackdown on substandard drugs

Drugs on sale at a chemist. (Photo: Freepik)

By Rachael Mutabasi
Thursday, July 2, 2026

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Parallel importation allows medicines to be imported without the patent holder's consent through alternative supply channels.

The government has stopped the parallel importation of medicines and other health technologies in a move aimed at tightening regulation of pharmaceutical imports and protecting Kenyans from substandard and falsified medical products.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced the decision on Thursday, saying all medicines and health technologies entering the country will now be imported only through approved channels to ensure they meet the required quality, safety and efficacy standards.

Parallel importation allows medicines to be imported without the patent holder's consent through alternative supply channels.

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"We decided to clean up the market by stopping all parallel imports, which had become rampant and caused significant problems in our country. As we speak, we have stopped the parallel importation of medicines and other health technologies. If you were in that business, it is time to look for another one," he said.

Duale disclosed that no applications for the parallel importation of medicines have been approved since October 1, 2025.

"Since October 1, 2025, not a single parallel import has been approved for entry into the country, and I do not believe any will be approved again. We made a deliberate decision to clean up the market and end parallel imports," he added.

This comes as the government has intensified its crackdown on substandard and falsified medicines by launching an Interministerial Steering Committee to coordinate the implementation of Kenya's National Action Plan on Substandard and Falsified Medical Products amid growing concerns over the threat posed by fake drugs.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that one in every 10 medical products in Africa is substandard or falsified, contributing to more than 267,000 deaths annually from ineffective antimalarial medicines and another 169,271 deaths linked to poor-quality antibiotics used to treat severe pneumonia in children.