Gachagua orders shutdown of unlicensed pharmacies
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has ordered County Commissioners to shut down all unlicensed pharmacies in the country.
Speaking during the International Scientific Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya in Mombasa on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, Gachagua said all facilities dispensing over-the-counter drugs illegally must be reigned in.
The Deputy President also castigated licensed pharmacists against leasing their licenses to businesspeople, saying they were committing an illegality.
"How do you allow a character who has not gone to school to use your license," Gachagua posed.
"Do not allow these merchants and thugs to ruin this noble profession because these traders would sell anything to anybody as long as they make money," Gachagua added.
During the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya conference that runs from June 10, 2024, to June 14, 2024, Gachagua promised to support the professional body to get representation in the Pharmacy and Poisons board, the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) board and the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) board.
The Deputy President also promised to help the new body set up offices throughout the 47 counties by talking to the respective Governors.
Crackdown on illegal pharmacies
This order comes just days after the Pharmacy and Poisons board confiscated 120 cartons of assorted drugs and arrested some 30 individuals who were found operating chemists without proper documentation.
"The proliferation of illicit pharmacies poses a significant threat to public health and safety,” said Fred Siyoi, CEO of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board in a statement on June 10, 2024. 
“We are dedicated to eliminating these activities and holding accountable those who endanger consumer well-being," Siyoi added.
The crackdown also saw significant support and collaboration from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to ensure that those involved in these unlawful activities are prosecuted to the extent of the law.
"The closure of over 100 rogue pharmacies is expected to disrupt the illicit supply chain and prevent further harm to the public. The Board assures its commitment to ongoing monitoring and enforcement within the pharmaceutical industry, ensuring that only safe and legitimate medications are available to consumers," Siyoi added.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board functions as the National Drug Regulatory Authority within the Ministry of Health, established under the Pharmacy and Poisons Act Cap 244 Laws of Kenya.
Its core responsibility is to regulate the practice of pharmacy and ensure the safety, quality, and efficacy of medical products and health technologies.
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