Fake HIV Drugs, Test Kits Put 1.4 Million Kenyans at Risk, Pharmacy and Poisons Board Warns
More than 1.4 million Kenyans living with HIV could face serious health risks after the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) raised the alarm over the circulation of counterfeit HIV medicines and diagnostic test kits in the country. The regulator says falsified medical products, detected between 2020 and 2026, threaten HIV treatment efforts, increase the risk of drug resistance, and could lead to incorrect diagnoses.
Among the products flagged are counterfeit Truvada, a critical antiretroviral medicine used in HIV treatment and prevention, as well as fake SD Bioline HIV rapid test kits. Health experts warn that falsified HIV medicines may fail to suppress the virus, causing treatment failure and allowing drug-resistant strains to develop. At the same time, fake HIV test kits could produce inaccurate results, increasing the risk of undetected infections and continued transmission of the virus.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board also warned the public against counterfeit Viagra tablets being sold as treatment for erectile dysfunction. According to the regulator, the fake products may contain dangerous or unregulated ingredients that pose serious health risks. In addition, the board flagged counterfeit Hepcan 500 anticoagulant injections, warning that they could cause severe bleeding, organ damage, and other life-threatening complications if administered to patients.
The warning extends beyond HIV medication. Health officials in Kakamega County have also reported the circulation of fake P2 emergency contraceptive pills, raising concerns about reproductive health and the safety of medicines sold through informal supply chains. Authorities say counterfeit medicines continue to infiltrate the market through online platforms, unauthorized pharmacies, and illegal distribution networks.
To strengthen oversight, the government has intensified efforts to clean up the pharmaceutical sector, including stopping parallel importation of medicines and tightening product registration requirements. The Pharmacy and Poisons Board says 2,258 non-compliant products have already been removed from the market, while 250 substandard medical products have been identified. Between 2021 and 2025, the regulator received 1,413 quality-related complaints, recalled 99 products, and issued 18 public alerts on suspected falsified medicines.
The warning comes amid growing concerns over counterfeit medicines across Africa. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately one in every ten medical products in Africa is either falsified or substandard. The agency estimates that counterfeit medicines contribute to hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths annually, including more than 267,000 deaths linked to fake antimalarial medicines and over 169,000 child deaths associated with substandard antibiotics used to treat severe pneumonia.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board is urging Kenyans to purchase medicines only from licensed pharmacies and health facilities, verify medical products before use, and immediately report any suspected counterfeit medicines or unusual drug reactions to health authorities.