The present study is aimed at extracting and characterizing a tablet excipient from a local source, kaffir potato which is used locally as a source of food because of its high carbohydrate content. Maize starch BP was used as a reference standard. Starch identification tests, were the characteristics evaluated. The result showed that kaffir potato starch has good yield and has similar characteristics with maize starch BP in all parameters evaluated as specified by BP and Handbook of Pharmaceutical Excipients. Therefore the starch can be used as an alternative to maize starch BP in pharmaceutical formulations especially solid dosage forms
