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Aim: This study was carried out to identify the medicinal plants used by the Luhya community in Kakamega County and promote the preservation of this traditional knowledge. Methods: An ethnobotanical study was carried out between March 2016 and April 2016. Information from the 26 participants was obtained through face-to-face interviews, field observations, and by the use of semi-structured questionnaires. A literature review was done to identify the previously reported traditional uses and pharmacological activities. The relative frequency of citation, use values, and fidelity level values of the reported medicinal plants were calculated.

Numerous limitations encountered with mainstream Western Medicine, including exorbitant costs, side effects, ineffectiveness and unavailability continue to endear many to alternative herbal therapies. The World Health Organization recognizes the rampant use of herbal medicine, stating that over 80% of the global population uses this form of therapy either alone or alongside conventional therapies. In Kenya, herbal medicine is popular, and, in this review, we share a situational analysis of the industry, taking note of the opportunities and challenges that it offers. Importantly, we provide, in our opinion, easy to implement and financially friendly approaches towards improving the safety and appeal of herbal medicine practice in the country. We anticipate that the Kenyan scenario is replicated elsewhere across the continent and that, therefore, these insights may be similarly applicable.