KEY POINTS
- Crown Healthcare pharmaceutical plant targets local drug production.
- The firm aims to cut import reliance.
- The pharmaceutical plant could create 600 jobs.
Crown Healthcare, the Nairobi-based medical distribution company led by entrepreneur Shilen Thakerar, is preparing to enter pharmaceutical manufacturing after securing a $10 million investment to build a large-scale production facility. The funding, provided by Impact Fund Denmark, arrives as Kenya steps up efforts to strengthen domestic drug supply and reduce heavy reliance on imports that leave hospitals exposed to shortages and price swings.
Crown Healthcare pharmaceutical plant plans
The new facility will mark a shift in Crown Healthcare’s business model. Once operational, the company will no longer operate solely as a distributor but will manufacture essential generic medicines locally. That transition is expected to shorten delivery timelines, stabilize supply chains and improve access to medicines for public hospitals, private clinics and pharmacies across Kenya and neighboring markets.
Impact Fund Denmark said the investment aligns with its focus on backing healthcare manufacturing in emerging economies. The fund views local production as a way to reduce exposure to global supply disruptions that have repeatedly affected access to medicines in Africa. The project is expected to support around 600 jobs spanning production, logistics, quality assurance and technical operations, according to people familiar with the plan.
Cutting Kenya’s drug import reliance
According to Billionaire Africa, Kenya currently imports about 80 percent of its pharmaceutical products, leaving the health system vulnerable to shipping delays, foreign exchange pressures and inconsistent availability. Crown Healthcare believes local manufacturing can ease those pressures while giving regulators greater visibility into how medicines are produced and distributed.
The company also points to the persistent challenge of counterfeit drugs across the continent. Antibiotics, antimalarials, antiretrovirals and painkillers rank among the most frequently falsified products. By producing medicines domestically, Crown Healthcare aims to support stronger quality control and reduce the circulation of substandard treatments.
Founded in 1998, Crown Healthcare built its footprint as a medical distributor serving Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. Over time, it expanded into branded generics, laying the groundwork for manufacturing. The planned facility represents its largest expansion to date and signals its intention to operate as a regional pharmaceutical producer rather than a logistics-focused supplier.
Investors increasingly view pharmaceutical manufacturing in Africa as both commercially viable and socially important. For Crown Healthcare, the project offers a path toward scale while supporting Kenya’s goal of medicine self-sufficiency. If execution stays on track, the Crown Healthcare pharmaceutical plant could reshape the company’s role in the region’s health-care supply chain.
