The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has arrested 95 individuals posing as pharmacists and shut down 48 premises found operating without valid licences.
Speaking at PPB headquarters in Nairobi, the Head of Good Distribution Practices and Enforcement at the board, Julius Kaluai, said those arrested will be prosecuted.
The enforcement operation, which ended on 19 June 2026, saw PPB officers inspect 155 premises in informal settlements across Nairobi and neighbouring Kajiado County. The targeted areas included Kibra, Korogocho, Eastleigh, Dandora, Mathare, Embakasi, Nairobi West, and Ongata Rongai, among others.
“The 48 premises that were also found non-compliant were issued with closure notices, and they have now been marked, and letters have been written to the respective county commanders. The letters are similarly copied to affected county governments, as well as the National Police Service, to ensure that the premises are permanently closed,” he explained.
To prevent the re-emergence of the illegal outlets, Kaluai said the PPB is working with county governments and security agencies to ensure strict compliance.
“Within those 155 premises, we indicated that 95 of them did not comply, and therefore, they were arrested. We basically made 95 arrests, and those people… have been produced in Kajiado law courts, Kibra, and Makadara, so we are waiting for the outcome of the court cases,” Kaluai stated.
He added that about 169 cartons of medicines were confiscated from the illegal outlets during the operation.
Kaluai urged pharmacists to adhere to the law, warning that those found culpable risk losing their licences.
He also cautioned the public to buy medicine only from registered and licensed chemists, noting that unregistered premises are often run by unqualified individuals.
“We have regional offices within Nairobi and other areas, but the basic part is that you need to check the license, because the license is not a secret document. The law is clear that it must be displayed clearly where anyone being served can see and verify who is attending to them,” Kaluai added.
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