Dr Nicholas Muyale Kenya Veterinary association chair
By: Eric Wanjala
Few days after a section of pharmacist practitioners tabled their dissatisfaction towards the Kenya Drug Authority Bill, citing amendments being biased and not considerate of their input, Dr Muyale from the Kenya Veterinary association is saying that the Bill tabled by Robert Pukose was well captured and for the interest of Kenyans on the medical space.
According to Kenya Veterinary Association the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK) objections to the KDA Bill amendments are misleading, misinformative, provocative and has created unwarranted apprehension.
” We want to state the following facts that there is no lacuna in the regulation of veterinary medicines in Kenya. The Veterinary Surgeons Veterinary Paraprofessionals Act (Veterinary Medicines Directorate) Regulations 2015 are functional, where need be, reviews can be pursued but not a repeal, Also Kenya risks exposing the public to unsafe foods of animal origin by reverting to inefficient and ineffective regulation of veterinary medicines by pharmacists. Commented DR. Muyale.
The pharmacists now say including the three amendments will water down Kenya’s standards and reduce her competitiveness while allowing regional countries to take control of the market. The bill which is sponsored by MP Robert Pukose underwent its first reading on November 9, 2022.It is designed to stabilize the regulatory framework in the manufacturing and distribution of health-made products and technologies in the country.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya says despite giving their submissions on the proposed bill which is now at the Second Reading in Parliament together with the Ministry of Health and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, their inputs on the three instances were ignored. The issues of contention include an amendment that will see veterinary products removed from KDA regulation. The Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya has raised concern that if allowed to sail through, this will risk adverse effects on patient and animal health as well as jeopardize exports of medicines and animal products.
“We are trying to influence and see if the President can intervene because sometimes the bill is usually very long it has 97 clauses, the rest of the clauses have been cleaned up only these three need to be rectified,” PSK president Louis Machogu said.
The amendments also allow technicians to handle all scheduled medicines which the pharmacists now claim is in contravention of global best practices thus pausing a serious risk to the public safety due to indiscriminate access to controlled medicines and narcotics.
Similar Posts by The Mt Kenya Times:
- Gachagua links Ruto to Kedong, Kibiko land disputes
- Mt Kenya Times ePAPER July 4-5, 2026
- Linda Mwananchi promises united opposition
- The weekend mirror: Why reflection may be the most important thing we do
- Do we learn nothing? The recurring tragedy of school fires in Kenya
About the Author
