Nairobi, June 24 -- When President William Ruto announced in October 2023 that at least 50 percent of medicines on the Kenya Essential Medicines List (KEML) would be manufactured locally by 2026, it gave hope to local pharmaceutical manufacturers who had struggled for many years to compete with cheaper imports and unreliable government payments.

The long-term goal was to reduce the country's dependence on foreign supply chains, cut the annual pharmaceutical import bill by Sh76 billion, and build a domestic industry capable of supplying Kenyans with the medicines they need most.

"Mark these dates because they are important to you as manufacturers: by 2026, at least 50 percent of the medicines listed in the Kenya Essential Medicines List ...