NAIROBI, Kenya | November 12, 2026 – Kenya’s ambition to become a regional pharmaceutical manufacturing hub has received a major boost, with Apifa Biotech securing support from Swedfund, Sweden’s development finance institution, to fund preparatory studies for the proposed Biopharma Life Sciences Park at Kenya’s flagship smart city, Konza Technopolis. The project, structured through a public-private partnership (PPP) framework between Apifa Biotech and Technopolis Development Authority, received approval by the National treasury in April 2026 to proceed to the development phase.
Apifa Biotech is set to establish a pharmaceutical and life sciences manufacturing hub at Konza Technopolis to support Kenya’s efforts to strengthen local medicare supplies and consumables production, reduce reliance on pharmaceutical imports, and expand the country’s participation in the regional healthcare manufacturing industry.
The project committee has selected a consortium comprising global real estate and investment advisory firm Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) and healthcare research and analytics company IQVIA to undertake the feasibility study, bringing global expertise in life sciences strategy, infrastructure development, investment advisory, and operational planning.
Technopolis Development Authority’s Chief Executive Officer John Paul Okwiri said the Biopharma Life Sciences Park represents an important step in positioning Konza Technopolis as a destination for pharmaceutical manufacturing, biotechnology innovation and investment.
“The Biopharma Life Sciences Park will position Konza as an emerging centre for life sciences and pharmaceutical manufacturing, helping Kenya move from importing most of its medicines to producing them locally,” said Okwiri.
He noted that the project demonstrates the potential of public-private partnerships in mobilizing the expertise, financing and technical capabilities required to deliver large-scale infrastructure investments.
“Konza Technopolis is a strong champion of public-private partnerships because we believe they are the most practical way to move huge infrastructure from paper to reality. This project is a clear example of why private expertise and capital mobilization matter,” he added.
Swedfund International’s grant funding will support the technical and commercial assessments required to determine the project’s feasibility, strengthen its investment proposition, and establish a pathway towards subsequent development phases.
“This funding commitment we are making today will help to advance the necessary groundwork, strengthen project preparation, and create a clear pathway toward maximizing national development outcomes and attracting long-term private investment to develop Kenya’s pharmaceutical and life sciences sector,” said Elsa Ekblom, Health Sector Lead, Project Accelerator, Swedfund.
Apifa Biotech’s Board Chairman, Dr. Gerald Macharia, and Chief Executive Officer, who witnessed ceremony, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to advancing the proposed development.
“We are excited as Apifa Biotech to witness this important milestone. Our engagement with Konza Technopolis and Swedfund’s financial support for the project development phase, together with the global experience of JLL and IQVIA, the consortium awarded to conduct the feasibility study, brings us a significant step closer to realizing our vision of establishing a world-class Biopharma Life Sciences manufacturing hub in Kenya for the EAC region. We look forward to the next steps,” said Dr. Keter.
The proposed park, designed, developed and financed by Apifa Biotech, will create opportunities for collaboration among pharmaceutical manufacturers, researchers, investors and technology enterprises.
The initiative also supports the broader ambition of positioning Konza Technopolis as a hub where technology, research and industry converge to address national and regional development challenges.
The project aligns with the African Union’s goal of meeting 60% of Africa’s health product needs through local production by 2040, and Kenya’s economic development plans and policies to make at least half of its essential health products locally.
With the funding now in place, the project enters a critical preparation phase, with the JLL-IQVIA feasibility study expected to inform its technical requirements, commercial viability, investment structure and implementation roadmap.
