Fake P2 in circulation: Poisons Board warns Kenyans against Postinor-2 batch T34197R
By Ascah Mwango, August 14, 2026The Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has issued an urgent public health alert over a counterfeit batch of widely used emergency contraceptive pills circulating in the domestic market, warning that the falsified medication poses severe risks of unwanted pregnancies and potential chemical exposure.
PPB stated on Friday, August 14, 2026, that routine post-marketing surveillance uncovered a fake batch of Postinor-2—a levonorgestrel-based morning-after pill – labelled under batch number T34197R.
The board confirmed that the affected batch, which falsely claims to be manufactured by European pharmaceutical company Gedeon Richter Plc, was neither produced nor released by the legitimate manufacturer.
Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the distribution, as multi-agency security teams work to trace the supply chain and point of entry into the country.
“This batch of falsified Postinor-2 may contain incorrect amounts of the active ingredient, no active ingredient at all, harmful contaminants, or undeclared substances, and therefore may not provide the intended therapeutic effect,” the board warned in its statement.
Following comparative laboratory and physical analyses against authentic Gedeon Richter stocks, regulators detailed several physical discrepancies that distinguish the falsified packaging:
Package sealing: Authentic Postinor-2 boxes utilize a distinct hot-melt closure, whereas the fake packs employ an alternative sealing mechanism.
Colour intensity: The orange lettering and branding elements on the counterfeit packaging display a significantly more intense hue than genuine products.
Printing errors: Investigators flagged multiple typographical and layout errors within the enclosed Patient Information Leaflet, alongside inconsistencies in how the batch number itself is stamped on the outer carton.
Authentication panel: The font revealed beneath the scratch-off verification panel on the counterfeit packs differs from the authorized design used on legitimate products.
The discovery has prompted health authorities to call for immediate verification procedures across clinics, pharmacies, and wholesale distribution networks.
Medical professionals, pharmacists, and health facility administrators have been instructed to inspect all existing levonorgestrel 0.75 mg inventory, immediately quarantine any suspected units matching batch T34197R, and report encounters to the regulator.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board emphasized that sourcing pharmaceutical supplies from unauthorized or unlicensed vendors violates the Pharmacy and Poisons Act, warning that legal action will be taken against entities involved in distributing illicit medical products.
Members of the public who suspect they may have purchased the affected batch have been advised to discontinue use immediately and consult healthcare providers.