Safe and accessible medicines in Kenya

Harley’s is a family business that has grown and expanded over 70 years, supported by its management and a skilled team that numbers 700 today. The company operates regionally out of hubs in five East African cities: Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret in Kenya, Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, and Kampala in Uganda. Harley’s route to market is a well-developed distribution network that extends to small and rural pharmacies across East Africa. 

Since its inception in 1953, Harley’s has been committed to the highest customer service standards and quality of products. Focused on import, marketing and distribution, the company represents several prestigious global brands. Its turnover is generated from a diversified portfolio of products, ranging from pharmaceuticals and health products to medical equipment.

Together with the Mauritian conglomerate IBL, Proparco has closed the acquisition of a majority stake in Harley’s, alongside the founding family. 

Proparco’s objective is to expand the supply of medicine and health products in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

The investment and the synergies with IBL’s subsidiary HealthActiv will support Harley’s growth plan. The project will have the following social and economic impacts:

- Support for the creation of 200 jobs and the safeguarding of 640 jobs in the company 

- Support for better access to safe medicines, through the development and distribution of pharmaceutical products whose availability may be very limited in the region (East Africa).

The project will contribute to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) n° 3 (Good health and well-being) and n° 8 (Decent work and economic growth).