This archive report was first published on 5 December 2019.
On Thursday morning, a joint operation between the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, police, and the office of the regional commissioner resulted in the shutdown of 80 chemists in Nairobi.
According to Senior Inspector of Drugs Julius Kaluai, the operation was a follow-up on a mapping exercise provided by the regional commissioner's office.
During the raid, 43 people were arrested and arraigned in court. Of those, 10 pleaded guilty and were fined between Ksh.200,000 and Ksh.380,000.
Inspector Kaluai urged the public to look out for health code banners in drug stores, which are issued by the board and certify that the shops are inspected and registered.
He also advised the public to send a message to the code provided on the banner to confirm whether the outlet is registered or not.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board indicated that this operation is part of a continuous effort to crack down on illicit chemists in the Central, Coast, and Nairobi regions, with plans to expand countrywide.
In Nairobi, the board noted that only 1889 outlets have been captured in their system, highlighting the need for further action.
