By Perez Karisa, July 3, 2026
The Ministry of Health has announced sweeping new measures that will prohibit the delivery of prescription antibiotics through boda boda riders and online platforms as part of an intensified crackdown on counterfeit and substandard medicines circulating in Kenya.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale unveiled the policy during the launch of the Interministerial Committee on Falsified Medical Products, saying the government is moving to tighten controls over the pharmaceutical supply chain to protect public health and preserve the effectiveness of life-saving medicines.
Under the new policy, prescription antibiotics and other controlled medicines will only be dispensed through physically licensed and authorized pharmacies. Patients will be required to obtain their medication directly from registered pharmaceutical outlets where qualified healthcare professionals can verify prescriptions and provide appropriate guidance on medicine use.
Duale said the move is aimed at closing loopholes that have enabled criminal networks to exploit digital platforms and informal delivery services to distribute counterfeit, expired and substandard pharmaceutical products.
A major concern behind the decision is the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which health experts describe as one of the world’s most serious public health challenges. The misuse and overuse of antibiotics have contributed to bacteria becoming increasingly resistant to treatment, making once-effective medicines less capable of treating common infections.
Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni recently highlighted the extent of the problem after a government assessment found that several pharmacies were dispensing powerful antibiotics, including Augmentin, without requiring valid prescriptions or assessing whether the medicines were appropriate for patients.
Health officials warned that unrestricted access to antibiotics encourages self-medication, incorrect dosing and incomplete treatment, practices that accelerate the emergence of drug-resistant infections.
The ministry also cited the increasing use of unauthorized online platforms and courier services to distribute counterfeit medicines. According to regulators, criminal syndicates have increasingly turned to digital marketplaces to sell falsified antibiotics, counterfeit sexual enhancement drugs, fake HIV prevention medicines and fraudulent diagnostic kits, making it difficult for consumers to distinguish genuine products from dangerous imitations.
Officials further expressed concern about the transportation of medicines using motorcycles, noting that many pharmaceutical products require carefully controlled storage conditions to maintain their effectiveness. Exposure to excessive heat, direct sunlight and fluctuating temperatures during delivery can reduce the potency of certain medicines, potentially compromising patient treatment.
Beyond restricting medicine delivery, the government announced a series of broader regulatory reforms to strengthen oversight of Kenya’s pharmaceutical sector.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has been directed to halt parallel importation of medicines, requiring pharmaceutical products entering the country to pass through approved supply chains linked directly to patent holders or authorized manufacturers. The ministry says this will improve traceability and reduce opportunities for counterfeit medicines to enter the market.
The government has also ordered all businesses operating online pharmacies to formally register their digital operations, delivery systems and distribution
