Jobs for Bachelor of Pharmacy Graduates

Becoming a pharmacist in Kenya

The Bachelor of Pharmacy is a five-year degree offered by a small number of public and private universities. It covers pharmaceutical chemistry, pharmacology, pharmaceutics, clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice. Graduates complete a one-year internship in approved sites, then sit the registration examination of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB), the regulator established under the Pharmacy and Poisons Act. Only registered pharmacists with a valid annual licence may practise and supervise pharmacies.

Where pharmacists work

• Hospital pharmacist in public, private and faith-based hospitals, increasingly in clinical pharmacy roles on the wards
• Community pharmacist and superintendent pharmacist in retail pharmacy chains
• Manufacturing, quality assurance and regulatory affairs in pharmaceutical companies
• Medical representative and product specialist roles with distributors and multinationals
• Supply chain and procurement for health programmes, including national supply agencies

Entry requirements

Places are allocated through KUCCPS, and pharmacy is competitive, typically needing at least a C+ mean grade with strong grades in Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics or Physics, and in practice cut-off points well above the minimum.

Regulation you should know

PPB licenses premises as well as people. Every retail pharmacy must be under the control of a registered pharmacist or an enrolled pharmaceutical technologist as the law allows, and the board carries out inspections and crackdowns on unlicensed outlets. Understanding the rules on prescription-only medicines, record keeping and controlled drugs is expected in interviews.

Career growth

Pharmacists often start in hospital or retail roles, moving into senior pharmacist, chief pharmacist or superintendent roles, or across into industry. Postgraduate study in clinical pharmacy, pharmacoeconomics, public health or regulatory science opens specialist and leadership roles. Some pharmacists open their own pharmacies once they have experience and capital; the business side, including stock control and supplier credit, matters as much as clinical knowledge for those who do.

Internship placement tips

Internship sites are approved by the board, and the quality of your internship shapes your early career. Hospitals with a range of departments give the broadest experience, while industry placements suit those aiming at manufacturing or regulatory roles. Apply early and keep your logbook complete, because it is reviewed before registration.