Police in conjunction with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board shut down over 60 chemists within Nairobi estates and major towns in the country after carrying out a well-coordinated raid.
In a statement by the board on Saturday, December 24, 63 people were arrested for operating unlicensed chemists.
Kenyans, on the other hand, were also cautioned against unscrupulous business owners who were illegally operating chemists and putting their lives at risk.
Consequently, Kenyans were tipped on ways to identify legit chemists.
"Members of the public are advised to avoid buying medicines from chemists bearing no names on display or have no signages.
"We are advising members of the public to verify the registration details of pharmacy practitioners at the community pharmacies, hospital pharmacies as well as any other drug dispensing facilities," read the statement in part.
The board indicated that Kenyans could verify legit pharmacies through its official website.
Further, the agency cautioned entrepreneurs investing in chemists against leaving shops to unqualified pharmacists.
On his part, the board's Head of Inspectorate and Enforcement, Julius Kaluai, indicated that more operations would be carried out to ensure that illegal shops in the country are shut down.
"The inspection focused on investigation, prosecution and reporting of illegal pharmaceutical outlets, and targeted wholesalers of pharmaceuticals," he stated.
During the raid, the police recovered 143 boxes of assorted health products.
Those arrested are set to be arraigned before a court of law in the coming weeks.
