Controlled and prescription-only medicines (like Xanax, diazepam or tramadol): is it legal to have them?
Pharmacy and Poisons Board · sources read 4 Oct 2026
Yes, if a doctor, dentist or vet prescribed them and a licensed pharmacy or clinic supplied them to you. Having a Part I poison any other way is an offence: up to KSh 100,000 fine, 3 years in jail, or both.
- Where
- A licensed pharmacy, with a prescription from a qualified doctor, dentist or vet
What you need
- A valid prescription from a qualified doctor, dentist or vet
- If travelling into Kenya with controlled medicines: the prescription, in English or translated into English
Steps
- See a qualified doctor, dentist or vet and get a prescription for the medicine.
- Take the prescription to a licensed pharmacy. Pharmacies must dispense prescription-only medicines only against a valid prescription and keep records.
- Bringing narcotic or psychotropic medicines into Kenya for your own use? Declare them to the PPB inspector at the port of entry with your prescription.
Watch out
- Having a Part I poison that wasn't lawfully sold or dispensed to you is an offence: a fine of up to KSh 100,000, up to 3 years in jail, or both.
- Travellers may carry up to 30 days' supply of controlled medicine. For more, apply to PPB for an import permit.
- Some narcotics (Schedule IV of the 1961 UN Convention) are not allowed in at all, even if they are legal where you are coming from.
Who this covers
- Anyone a qualified doctor, dentist or vet has prescribed the medicine for, supplied by a pharmacy, doctor or hospital.
Official sources (4)
- Pharmacy and Poisons Act (Cap. 244) web.pharmacyboardkenya.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Public notice: Sale of Prescription Only Medicines web.pharmacyboardkenya.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Guidelines for Management of Narcotics, Psychotropics and Precursor Chemical Substances (Rev. 0, October 2024) web.pharmacyboardkenya.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- PPB licence status search practice.pharmacyboardkenya.org · read 4 Oct 2026