24 fake pharmacists arrested, 30 illegal chemists closed in Nairobi crackdown

Police in Nairobi have arrested 24 fake pharmacists and shut down 30 illegal pharmaceutical outlets across the city as part of an operation led by officials from the Poisons and Pharmacy Board (PPB) targeting illegal chemists.

The apprehended individuals will be arraigned and charged for offenses under the PPB Act, which prohibits operating a pharmaceutical business without a license from the Board.

“Since we started the operation last week on Monday, so far we have been able to arrest 24 persons and managed to close 30 pharmaceutical outlets," PPB Inspector Dr. Tom Mwangi said.

Mwangi emphasized that illegal pharmaceutical outlets pose a significant public health risk since they do not adhere to standards set by PPB, further pointing out  that some of the outlets are sometimes used as channels for the sale of illegal drugs, including narcotics.

“You will find there will be sale of medicines without prescription which promotes even sale of narcotics and psychotropic substances without prescriptions," he said.

Mwangi made the remarks on Thursday in Mbotela, Nairobi County, where police and PPB officials shut down two illegal chemists.

“We want to tell the public that this operation will go on continuously to ensure that we totally read the country of these illegal pharmaceutical outlets," he said. 

PPB head of enforcement and surveillance Dr. Julius Kaluai Mwangi likewise stated that the operation will extend to all remaining 46 counties, highlighting that regional PPB coordinators will spearhead the action across the devolved units.

He added that the crackdown was prompted by President William Ruto's directive instructing relevant bodies to eliminate the sale and consumption of illicit drugs and alcohol across the country.