Kisumu County has entered into a strategic partnership with US-based Med Aditus Pharmaceuticals (MAP) to establish a Sh1.6 billion pharmaceutical manufacturing plant. The plant, set to be built on 10 acres in Miwani ward, Muhoroni Subcounty, aims to produce high-quality, affordable medicines using advanced technology to optimize operations. Production is slated to begin in 2028, with plans to distribute medicines throughout Kenya and East Africa.
MAP’s CEO, Dhiren Thakker, highlighted the initiative’s potential to reduce Kenya’s reliance on imported drugs, strengthening the country’s pharmaceutical production capabilities. “This facility will help fulfill our mission of improving access to affordable, high-quality medicines in sub-Saharan Africa and foster local pharmaceutical production growth,” he said.
Thakker pointed out that access to quality medicine is still a significant issue in Africa, where fewer than 400 drug manufacturing companies serve over 1.5 billion people. This contrasts sharply with India’s 10,500 companies catering to a similar population, underscoring Africa’s dependence on imports. He emphasized that better access to medicines could significantly improve life expectancy in low-income regions, as studies show that availability of quality medicine can add 10 to 20 years to life expectancy in wealthier nations.
The Kisumu plant will deploy cutting-edge technologies, including continuous modular manufacturing and blockchain-powered quality management systems. This innovative approach will allow MAP to produce high-quality medicines at a lower cost, with a production capacity of two to three billion tablets annually. The advanced methods will also reduce production time from the traditional two to three months to just five to 10 minutes per unit.
MAP is also investing in patient-centered, technology-driven solutions, potentially revolutionizing treatment methods and replacing traditional drug therapies. The plant will produce essential medications for conditions such as HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, cancer, sickle cell, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, addressing the region’s growing healthcare needs.
Dr. Vincent Orinda, chairperson of the project’s task force, called the partnership a significant milestone for Kisumu, positioning the county as a competitive player in global healthcare markets and creating job opportunities for local residents. Kisumu won the bid to host the plant, beating out Rwanda and Senegal.