The East Africa Pharma Expo 2025 provided a valuable opportunity to connect with key decision-makers from across the region. We were able to showcase our solutions, build relationships with potential partners, and explore new opportunities in a well-organized setting. The quality of attendees and the level of discussion exceeded our expectations, making it a rewarding experience

East Africa Pharma Expo 2025 provided us a great opportunity to connect and engage with the tremendously developing pharmaceutical market of Kenya. We have been regularly participating in the expo, and have been getting good exposure to the African market. I wish the organizing team all the very best for successful conclusion of the show, and for the upcoming editions as well.

Participating in East Africa Pharma Expo 2025 reinforced our confidence in the region’s potential. The event allowed us to engage with a broad audience - from seasoned industry professionals to up‑and‑coming entrepreneurs -and to share knowledge about best practices in manufacturing and compliance.

The Kenya Pharmaceutical Association, representing more than 13,000 pharmaceutical technologists across the country, sees first-hand how global shocks and currency volatility are affecting medicine distribution and healthcare access.
To address these disruptions, we believe in three critical pillars. First, reducing the cost of healthcare by strengthening local pharmaceutical manufacturing. By producing locally, we can stabilize prices, ensure consistent quality, and improve access to medicines.
Second, investment in human capital is vital. Kenya already has highly trained healthcare professionals who ensure medicine access, regulatory compliance, and patient care. With more investment, we can expand specialized training, provide scholarships, and build career pathways for the future.
Third, we must create space for small-scale innovators. Kenya is full of innovation, yet many struggle to scale because sustainable business models are lacking. Supporting these players will enable more efficient service delivery.
Above all, we firmly believe that quality healthcare is non-negotiable - it must remain accessible and affordable for every Kenyan.

At the Kenya Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (KAPI), our commitment is clear: to ensure safe, equitable, and affordable access to healthcare products for all.
We are advancing this mission by promoting the use of safe and effective medicines, eliminating counterfeit products, and intensifying the fight against illicit trade. These efforts are central to protecting patients and strengthening the credibility of our healthcare system.
By working together, we can create an environment where every Kenyan has access to the medicines they need - without fear of falsified or unsafe products.

Africa has the potential to become the next India or China in pharmaceutical manufacturing, provided all stakeholders align to promote local production. Yet, we face a lack of policies and laws that would encourage and motivate manufacturers to invest and expand.
Manufacturing is not only about economics - it is about sovereignty. A strong local industry shields us from global shocks, creates jobs, generates tax revenues, and ensures quick and easy access to medicines.
But above all, quality is not defined by the tests conducted at the end, but by the integrity of the process itself. We must produce medicines that we would trust to use ourselves.

This is more than an exhibition - it is a call to action. We hope it translates into stronger responsibility from every healthcare worker to guarantee accessible, affordable, and reliable healthcare, ensuring all citizens receive the highest possible standard of care.
Today, Kenya imports 70% of its medicines, but our vision is to reduce this to 30% within the next four to five years. Revamping local manufacturing is key to ensuring essential medicines are readily available and to making our healthcare systems more sustainable.
At PSK, we are guided by four pillars: Policy and Investments, Quality and Compliance, Technology and Innovation, and Human Capital Development. Through the EPIC strategy - Education, Policy, Innovations, and Collaborations - we aim to move Kenya from being a consumer of innovations to becoming a global pioneer in healthcare best practices.

The Government of Kenya is deeply committed to creating a robust, reliable, and sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing sector - one that not only supports East Africa, but contributes to global healthcare systems. We welcome foreign investors to explore the many opportunities available to strengthen local manufacturing.
The East Africa Pharma Expo provides a platform to share innovations, promote regulatory compliance, and foster collaborations between local and international stakeholders. Kenya stands as a hub for the pharmaceutical industry in East Africa, and through collective efforts, we aim to become a global model for reliable healthcare delivery.
Promoting local manufacturing is also central to achieving Universal Healthcare Coverage. At PPB, we are embracing AI to strengthen our regulatory capacity and aiming for ML3 status under WHO standards, to position Kenya as a beacon of regulatory excellence in Africa.
Our vision is to be a regulatory body that listens, supports, and ensures the highest quality standards, while providing a conducive environment for industry growth. Together with all stakeholders, we will make Kenya a leading contributor to the global pharmaceutical industry.
With this, I am proud to declare the 8th East Africa Pharma Expo officially open.

The world is changing, and with it, the standards for quality healthcare are rising. Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers a unique opportunity to overcome the challenges that have long slowed pharmaceutical manufacturing - from lengthy R&D timelines and delayed product launches to rising costs and quality concerns.
By harnessing data-driven decision-making and predictive analytics, AI can accelerate drug discovery, design, clinical trials, QA/QC, marketing, and supply chain tracking. Already, AI has contributed to discoveries such as Halicin, a new antibiotic effective against drug-resistant bacteria.
While AI brings efficiency, reduced costs, and improved patient safety, we must also address ethical concerns and fears of replacing human knowledge. Used responsibly, AI will not replace expertise, but enhance it - ensuring continuous improvement in quality and building a more resilient pharma sector.

During the Ministry’s 2023 Expo, we made a firm commitment: by 2026, drugs on the essential drug list must be produced locally. Since then, the Ministry has carried out a comprehensive assessment of the local manufacturing landscape to develop a practical strategy for achieving this goal.
We have also evaluated mission-led industries for capacity building, ensuring they are positioned to play their role in improving access and availability. Importantly, this strategy integrates insights from both local and international stakeholders, making it inclusive and forward-looking.
Between April and June 2025, the strategy was finalized, and it will be circulated for review and recommendations between July and September 2025.

The vision of making Kenya the pharmaceutical manufacturing hub of East Africa is alive and stronger than ever. We are deeply grateful to the government, industry leaders, associations, exhibitors, and international partners who have joined hands to make this Expo possible.
On behalf of the organizers, I extend my sincere appreciation to all the distinguished guests and speakers who have contributed their insights and support. Together, we will continue working towards strengthening East Africa’s role as a center of pharmaceutical excellence.

India has brought more than 75 pharmaceutical manufacturers with advanced technologies to this Expo, to build strong partnerships with East African counterparts.
Our vision is to support East Africa in becoming a key hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing in the region, fostering collaboration, technology transfer, and sustainable growth.