Kenya has launched an ambitious five-year strategy aimed at strengthening the local manufacturing of essential health products and technologies, marking a significant step towards improving healthcare access, reducing dependence on imports, and enhancing the country’s preparedness for future public health emergencies.
The Kenya Health Products and Technologies Local Manufacturing Strategy 2026–2030, launched by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with industry stakeholders and development partners, provides a roadmap for expanding domestic production of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, medical devices, and other critical health commodities. The strategy also seeks to strengthen regulatory systems to ensure locally manufactured products meet international standards for safety, quality, and effectiveness.
Speaking during the launch, Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga emphasized that increasing local manufacturing is essential to building a resilient health system capable of responding to emerging health challenges while supporting the country’s Universal Health Coverage agenda. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains, highlighting the need for countries to develop sustainable domestic production capacity.
The strategy is expected to create an enabling environment for investment by promoting innovation, technology transfer, research and development, and stronger public-private partnerships. It also aims to stimulate economic growth by creating skilled jobs, supporting local industries, and positioning Kenya as a regional hub for health product manufacturing.
Government targets include significantly increasing the proportion of essential health products manufactured locally, reducing reliance on imported medicines and medical supplies, and improving the affordability and availability of quality healthcare products across the country. The strategy aligns with Kenya’s broader industrialization agenda and continental initiatives such as the African Union’s pharmaceutical manufacturing framework.
Development partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), have welcomed the initiative, noting that stronger local manufacturing capacity will improve health security, enhance supply chain resilience, and ensure more reliable access to lifesaving medicines and medical technologies during both routine healthcare delivery and public health emergencies.