Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has ordered a nationwide crackdown on fake and substandard medicines, saying the government will not allow Kenyans to be exposed to dangerous and illegally distributed medical products.

According to a statement posted on X on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, the Ministry of Health said Duale had instructed the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) to tighten enforcement and ensure full compliance with the law across the entire pharmaceutical chain.

“Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has directed the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) to ensure full compliance with the law and take decisive regulatory action against any individual or entity that endangers the health and safety of Kenyans,” the statement reads.

Duale made the remarks during his inaugural visit to the Board, where he called for immediate clean-up of Kenya’s medicine supply.

“During his inaugural visit to the Board, CS Duale called for the immediate removal of all substandard, falsified, poor-quality, counterfeit, and unregistered medicines from the Kenyan market,” the statement reads

He stressed that strict legal action must be taken against those involved in distributing harmful products.

“Any individuals, premises, or entities involved in their distribution or sale must be arrested and prosecuted,” he stated

Duale further directed that parallel importation must strictly follow existing regulations. He said such imports must comply with the Pharmacy and Poisons (Parallel Imported Medicinal Substances) Rules of 2019. The Ministry stated that Duale also instructed PPB to intensify surveillance to curb illegal leasing of pharmaceutical licences.

“He instructed the Board to intensify surveillance to end the illegal leasing of licences,” the statement reads

The visit reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to strengthening regulatory systems as it pursues the World Health Organisation’s Maturity Level 3 (ML3) status for health products and technologies.

Duale also highlighted the role of the Taifa Care Model in improving regulation and urged PPB leadership to uphold integrity. “The team must embrace transparency, accountability, and integrity in line with Chapter Six of the Constitution,” he said

The Cabinet Secretary also outlined new measures designed to protect Kenyans, including tighter controls under the Social Health Authority (SHA).

“The Cabinet Secretary highlighted measures to protect Kenyans, including ensuring that the Social Health Authority (SHA) will not reimburse any medicine that is not certified by PPB,” the statement reads

He also emphasised the introduction of a new monitoring system. “He also noted that a track-and-trace system is being introduced to monitor medicines from source to the last mile,” he stated.

Duale concluded his visit by reaffirming the government’s commitment to the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which places healthcare at the centre of national priorities.