Kenya is positioning itself as a leading pharmaceutical manufacturing hub in Africa as the government steps up efforts to boost local production of medicines, vaccines and diagnostics while reducing the continent’s dependence on imports.
Speaking during a parallel session on Access to Medicines, Regulatory Harmonisation and Local and Regional Manufacturing of Medicines, Vaccines and Diagnostics, Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr. Ouma Oluga said Africa must invest in domestic pharmaceutical production to strengthen health security and reduce exposure to global supply chain disruptions.
“Africa’s pharmaceutical dependency is not just a market failure. It threatens to be a governance failure, yet we now have the tools to correct it,” Oluga said.
Kenya strengthens legal framework for local manufacturing
Oluga said Kenya has already established a strong legal and institutional foundation to support pharmaceutical manufacturing through key health reforms enacted in 2023.
He cited the Social Health Insurance Act, the Digital Health Act, and the Primary Health Care Act, saying the three laws have expanded healthcare coverage, created predictable demand for medicines and strengthened the country’s health system.
According to the Principal Secretary, the reforms have also enabled the establishment of a national digital health information system capable of generating real-time consumption data while positioning the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) as a more reliable purchaser through structured financing.
“These reforms are creating a predictable market that gives investors confidence to establish pharmaceutical manufacturing in Kenya,” he said.
Oluga warns against reliance on imported medicines
The Principal Secretary warned that Africa’s continued dependence on imported medicines and vaccines leaves countries vulnerable, particularly as antimicrobial resistance continues to grow and demand for advanced biologic therapies increases.
“The AMR crisis is failing patients with medicines we cannot make, and the biologics revolution is extending lives on every continent except ours because we import what others produce and we pay what others price,” Oluga said.
He argued that strengthening local production would improve access to essential medicines while enhancing the continent’s preparedness for future public health emergencies.
Kenya backs regional pharmaceutical cooperation
Oluga called for stronger implementation of continental initiatives, including the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism, the African Medicines Agency (AMA) and the World Bank’s AIM 2030 programme.
He said the initiatives provide an opportunity to integrate fragmented national markets into a single regional pharmaceutical market capable of supporting large-scale manufacturing.
The Principal Secretary also urged African governments to adopt procurement preferences and long-term purchasing agreements to make regional pharmaceutical production commercially sustainable.
BioVax to drive Kenya’s manufacturing ambitions
Oluga said Kenya is pursuing local production of vaccines, biologics, diagnostics and priority essential medicines through the Kenya BioVax Institute.
“We are not here to make pledges. We have established Kenya BioVax Institute for this assignment. We enacted the laws. We capitalised the supply institutions. We are inviting partners, continental and global, to co-invest in an ecosystem that is already being built,” he said.
He added that African countries should embrace specialisation and technology transfer instead of attempting to manufacture every medical product independently.
“No single African country can manufacture everything it needs, and none should try. Specialisation, technology transfer, and complementary manufacturing across countries is how this continent must build a resilient supply chain rather than 54 fragile ones,” Oluga said.
Call for sustained investment
Oluga concluded by urging African governments and development partners to back local pharmaceutical manufacturing through sustained financing, supportive procurement policies and stronger accountability.
“The question before this summit is not whether Africa should manufacture. The question is whether we will fund it, protect it, and demand accountability for its delivery. Kenya’s answer is yes. We invite the continent to say the same,” he said.
