Full List of Pharmaceutical Companies in Kenya (2024)
by Justice
There are many pharmaceutical companies in Kenya. The country, located in the east of Africa, is the 5th largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is also the dominant economy in the East African Community (EAC), with 40% of the entire region GDP.
Kenya pharmaceutical field is a growing sector, with a lot of opportunities for investors to tap into due to the ever-increasing population (47.6 million in 2019), urbanization and government spending on medicine. Kenya also has political stability, a stable power supply, low inflation rates. The sector is valued above $1 billion.
The Kenya Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Sector
Kenya is the 3rd largest exporter of pharmaceuticals in Africa, and the leading pharmaceutical producer in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) region. The Big Four Agenda by the government seeks to empower the manufacturing sector, including pharmaceutical manufacturing in Kenya.
The biggest pharmaceutical manufacturers in Kenya are Beta Healthcare Ltd., Cosmos Limited, Dawa Limited, Elys Chemical Industries Ltd., GSK, Laboratory and Allied Ltd, Regal Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Universal Corporation Ltd. There are 35 licensed pharmaceutical manufacturers in Kenya.
The companies produce mostly generic drugs using imported raw materials (Tablets, capsules, creams, ointments and liquids). They serve 30% of Kenya local drug needs and export to their neighbouring countries such as Tanzania, DR Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda. However, in the area of research and development (R&D), pharmaceutical companies in Kenya are much limited.
Pharmaceutical companies in Nairobi areas make up much of the list. Not all the companies in this list are manufacturers, some of them are pharmaceutical distributors in Kenya. Others are wholesalers, retailers, and government research and regulatory agencies.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) of Kenya is the main Drug Regulatory Authority. They license all pharmaceutical manufacturing companies. Also, they make sure they are certified with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards and also Good Distribution Practices (GDP) before product registration.
Pharmaceutical manufacturers in Kenya also have an umbrella body, Kenya Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (FKPM) to serve their interest in policies.
