PPB Responds to Viral Claims About Illegal Drugs in Nairobi Pharmacies

The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has dismissed a newspaper article claiming that 90% of pharmacies in Nairobi are selling illegal drugs.

According to the PPB, the article misrepresented the findings of an investigation into parallel-imported medicines.

In a statement issued on July 4, 2026, the Board said the headline wrongly gave the impression that the products under review were illegal, substandard, falsified, or unsafe for human use, which was not the actual conclusion of the study.

“The headline creates the impression that the medicinal products assessed were illegal, substandard, falsified, or unsafe for patient use. This does not accurately reflect the findings of the study,” the PPB said.

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Quality of Parallel-Imported Medicines in Kenya

Parallel importation is still currently a lawful method under the Pharmacy and Poisons (Parallel Imported Medicinal Substances) Rules, 2019, and the Board stated it was introduced to improve accessibility and affordability of medicines to Kenyans.

The Board stated every medicinal product tested in that study had been licensed under this regulatory regime, was produced by the original manufacturers, and met a universally accepted Code of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standard.

The Board made clear that none of these products had been identified as substandard, falsified or unsafe for use on patients, even though the heading and framing used by the Daily Nation appeared to give this impression.

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PPB Regulatory Reforms and Stance on Parallel Imported Medicines

PPB commented that it has brought in further regulatory reforms, and since October 2025, has approved no new Parallel imported medicinal applications.

“No new applications for parallel imported medicinal products have been approved since October 2025. The Board is dedicated to making sure that only health products that meet the necessary standards for quality, safety, and effectiveness are available in Kenya,” said Dr. Ahmed I. Mohamed, Chief Executive Officer of the PPB.

Dr. Mohamed called on the public, media, and stakeholders to always confirm regulatory issues from the Pharmacy and Poisons Board in order to publish responsibly.

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PPB officers inspect shelves, document violations, and post closure notices during a week-long crackdown on illegal pharmaceutical outlets in Nairobi and Kajiado counties. Credits PPB X