The Kenyan government has formally set 2028 as the target deadline to integrate evidence-based traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine into the country’s mainstream healthcare system. The ambitious move aims to expand access to affordable treatments, protect indigenous knowledge, and bolster Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB), is finalizing a National Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine Policy. The framework will govern the training, registration, licensing, and standardized dosing of traditional practitioners to ensure patient safety and quality control.
Speaking during events marking African Traditional Medicine Day at KEMRI, health officials emphasized that remedies will not be integrated based on tradition alone—they must undergo rigorous scientific validation, clinical trials, and standardized laboratory testing.
“Traditional medicine should complement, rather than operate separately from, conventional healthcare,” noted health experts, stressing that research must guide integration to safeguard public health while scaling up local solutions.
KEMRI is currently prioritizing six candidate herbal formulations—including promising anti-cancer treatments—set to undergo clinical piloting in referral hospitals.
Partnerships with county governments (such as Elgeyo Marakwet) and the Kenya Forest Service are establishing commercial herbal gardens to protect forest ecosystems while securing a sustainable supply of medicinal plants.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board is enforcing strict manufacturing, labelling, and safety monitoring rules to move herbal products into formal clinical settings.
By standardizing and scientifically validating traditional therapies, Kenya seeks to cut reliance on imported pharmaceuticals, boost local manufacturing, and establish a regulated, globally competitive herbal medicine sector by 2028.
