Equity Group Steps into Pharmacy Retail with First Standalone Outlet at Nairobi's Britam Towers

Equity Group has taken a significant step into Kenya's pharmaceutical retail sector, unveiling its first-ever standalone pharmacy at Britam Towers in Nairobi's Upper Hill district. The launch marks a new chapter for Equity Afya, the group's healthcare arm, which has until now only maintained in-house pharmacies within its network of medical centres. With this outlet, the group signals a deliberate push into community-level pharmaceutical services available to the wider public.

Equity Afya currently operates 154 medical centres spread across Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo. While these facilities have long provided pharmaceutical services to patients internally, the new Upper Hill outlet is the first to function as a fully independent community pharmacy — welcoming any member of the public in need of both prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Beyond dispensing medicines, the new pharmacy will offer complimentary health screenings covering common concerns such as high blood pressure and elevated blood sugar levels. Trained staff will be on hand to provide nutrition guidance, and customers who require more comprehensive medical attention will be referred to Equity Afya clinics within the network.

At the launch, Equity Group Foundation Executive Chairman James Mwangi highlighted an enduring gap in Kenya's health system. "Access to quality and affordable medicines remains a challenge for many Kenyans, particularly in underserved areas," he said. The pharmacy model, he explained, is specifically designed to bring down the cost of medicines while widening the reach of quality pharmaceutical care to communities that have long been left behind.

Looking ahead, Equity Group intends to grow the initiative through a franchise network model, replicating the same approach that drove the expansion of Equity Afya's clinic operations across the region. Graduates of the Equity Leaders Program stand to benefit directly from this plan, with opportunities to own and run pharmacy franchises under the established model — making them key drivers of health entrepreneurship in their communities.

The initiative has drawn the backing of the Gates Foundation, which supported the launch in acknowledgement of the model's potential to scale healthcare access across Africa. Equity Afya's existing clinic network already serves roughly 130,000 patients every month, and extending its pharmaceutical infrastructure could multiply that impact significantly.

The entry of Equity Group into standalone pharmacy retail reflects a broader trend in Kenya, where institutions with large community footprints are increasingly stepping into integrated health service delivery. For ordinary Kenyans, particularly those in areas poorly served by existing pharmacies, the expansion could mean more reliable access to medicines at prices they can actually afford.