By Milliam Murigi
Kenya is moving towards integrating evidence-based traditional medicine into its healthcare system by 2028.
This was revealed during the commemoration of African Traditional Medicine Day in Nairobi.
The commemoration brought together traditional health practitioners, researchers, regulators, members of academia and other stakeholders to discuss ways of strengthening the sector under the theme, “Strengthening African Traditional Medicine through Research, Regulation and Integration for Universal Health Coverage.”
Speaking during the meeting, Cabinet Secretary for Health, Aden Duale said the ministry is finalizing a policy aimed at guiding the research, regulation, licensing and practice of traditional and complementary medicine.
“Kenya has committed to integrating evidence-based traditional medicine into its healthcare system by 2028 and is currently finalizing the national traditional and complementary medicine policy. However, this integration must be anchored on scientific evidence, patient safety and effective regulation,” he said.
According to him, traditional medicine remains deeply rooted in African communities, cultures, indigenous knowledge and biodiversity, with significant potential to contribute to disease prevention, treatment, innovation and national development.
However, Duale stressed that preserving traditional knowledge must go hand in hand with ensuring that products and services offered to the public are safe, effective and supported by evidence.
“The policy is expected to provide a framework for the education, registration, licensing and regulation of practitioners, while promoting quality, safety and efficacy of traditional medicine,” he revealed.
Duale said that a stakeholder validation process was conducted in April 2026, with the Ministry now planning nationwide public participation before the policy is presented to Cabinet for approval.
He called for increased investment in research, saying that the country must move beyond simply documenting traditional remedies and instead focus on scientifically validating them and developing safe and effective health products.
“The country’s research agenda, must move beyond simply documenting traditional remedies and focus on product development, clinical evidence, quality assurance, pharmacovigilance and responsible commercialization,” he said.
Kenya is also seeking to strengthen the protection of intellectual property associated with indigenous knowledge and ensure that traditional knowledge holders and communities that have preserved medicinal practices benefit fairly from their use and commercialization.
The Ministry called for clear standards for practitioners, including appropriate training and professional requirements, saying regulation must be firm enough to protect patients while remaining responsive to the realities of traditional practice.
“Regulation will remain central to the planned integration. We will ensure that all traditional medicine products entering the market meet established quality and safety standards,” Duale said.
To achieve the 2028 target, the Ministry said government agencies, regulators, research institutions, practitioners, communities and development partners must work through a coordinated implementation framework with clearly defined responsibilities, targets, milestones and measurable results.
The Kenya Bureau of Standards, National Museums of Kenya and other institutions involved in research, regulation and preservation of indigenous knowledge are expected to play key roles in the implementation process.
“As a government and as a ministry, we shall provide the leadership. Our task is to preserve what is valuable, test what requires evidence, regulate what requires oversight, innovate where there is an opportunity and integrate where value has been demonstrated,” the official said.
The ultimate goal according to him is to build a traditional medicine sector that is evidence-informed, well-regulated, innovative, sustainable and inclusive while respecting the communities from which indigenous knowledge originates.
The planned reforms could mark a significant shift in Kenya’s healthcare system by formally recognizing traditional medicine while placing greater emphasis on scientific validation, quality control, patient safety and accountability. The approach would allow Kenya to honour its cultural heritage while building “a safer, healthier and more self-reliant future” for its people.
