Kenya Medical Supplies Authority — government agency supplying medicines and health products to public health facilities, which increased its order fill rate to over 90% through supply chain reforms.
… The committee raised the alarm after a Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) report showed that medicines worth approximately Sh1 billion had expired, prompting senators to question how such a large stock of essential drugs could go to waste. …
Audio By VocalizeWest Pokot County has flagged off health products and technologies worth Sh81 million from the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) for distribution to 173 health facilities across the county. …
… Under the agreement between Pfizer and the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), medicines used to treat breast, stomach, colon, lung, prostate and oesophageal cancers, as well as leukaemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, will be supplied at significantly lower prices. …
… " the President said. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-m', container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails', placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails', target_type: 'mix' }); The arrangement is between Pfizer and the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority …
… Muthoni said the Ministry is working with county governments and partners including the Kenya Red Cross Society, National Disaster Operations Centre, National Disaster Management Unit, KEMSA, KEMRI, WHO, UNICEF and other health-sector agencies. …
… Wachira pointed to reforms under the Social Health Authority (SHA), Facility Improvement Financing (FIF) and the Primary Healthcare Fund, as well as increased commodity availability through the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA). …
… Kindiki also said KEMSA’s order fill rate had risen from 40 per cent to 91 per cent, following Sh1.5 billion in direct government support and access to a Sh10 billion credit line. …
NAIROBI, Kenya Aug 19 – The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) has raised its order fill rate from about 40 per cent in 2022 to more than 90 per cent, marking a significant turnaround in the availability of medicines and health products in public health facilities. …
KEMSA records turnaround in supply chain performance as Order Fill Rate hits 90% By Kimberly Buop August 19, 2026 06:23 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter KEMSA Chief Executive Officer Dr. …
NAIROBI, Kenya Aug 18 – President William Ruto was on Tuesday taken through KEMSA’s digital transformation programme during a visit to its exhibition stand at the Kenya Health Summit in Nairobi. …
Taxpayers face losses of approximately Sh1 billion in expired medicines, prompting the Senate Health Committee to demand answers from the Pharmacy and Poisons Board over management, inspection and disposal gaps. A KEMSA report revealed that expired stock included drugs for cancer, HIV and malaria treatment, raising questions about weak inspection capacity, poor stock management and distribution delays.
Taxpayers face losses of approximately Sh1 billion in expired medicines, prompting the Senate Health Committee to demand answers from the Pharmacy and Poisons Board over management, inspection and disposal gaps. A KEMSA report revealed that expired stock included drugs for cancer, HIV and malaria treatment, raising questions about weak inspection capacity, poor stock management and distribution delays.
West Pokot County has received health products and technologies worth Sh81 million from the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority for distribution to 173 health facilities across the county, including 14 newly opened or reactivated dispensaries receiving KEMSA supplies for the first time.
President Ruto announced a government agreement with Pfizer that will slash prices of medicines for breast, stomach, colon, lung, prostate, and oesophageal cancers, as well as leukaemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, by more than seven times in some cases — reducing treatment cycle costs from up to Sh1 million to below Sh50,000. The deal, signed with the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority, aims to ease patients' financial burden and accelerate access to newer cancer treatments.
President Ruto announced a deal with Pfizer that will reduce the cost of medicines for nine cancers — including breast, stomach, colon, lung, prostate, oesophageal cancers, leukaemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma — by more than seven times, with some drugs falling from about Ksh.1 million to under Ksh.50,000 per cycle.
Kenya's Ministry of Health has announced a Health Sector El Niño Contingency Plan for the 2026/2027 season to mitigate health risks from anticipated heavy rains, flooding and displacement. The plan brings together national and county governments, emergency agencies, humanitarian organisations and development partners to prevent and respond to flood-related health emergencies, particularly water- and food-borne diseases.
A 2026 Health Summit brought together policymakers, health workers, and stakeholders to assess Kenya's progress toward Universal Health Coverage, with President Ruto presenting a scorecard of his 2022 health manifesto commitments, including the Social Health Authority (SHA) which has enrolled 32.2 million Kenyans to replace the NHIF.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki called for stronger coordination between national and county governments to deliver effective health reforms and Universal Health Coverage, emphasizing that counties manage frontline facilities and that system failures in any component immediately affect patient care.
The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority has increased its order fill rate from about 40 per cent in 2022 to more than 90 per cent by redesigning its approach around demand, efficiency, predictability, technology and data. KEMSA CEO Dr Waqo Ejersa said the authority consulted stakeholders to understand what health facilities actually needed, moving beyond simply managing nearly 3,800 Stock Keeping Units.
The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority has improved its Order Fill Rate from 40% in 2022 to over 90%, driven by a shift from a push-based supply model to a demand-driven strategy that consults county stakeholders and health facilities on actual needs.
President William Ruto visited KEMSA's exhibition stand at the Kenya Health Summit in Nairobi to see how digital systems are improving efficiency and accountability in the health supply chain. KEMSA said its order fill rate has risen to 90 per cent from 40 per cent three years ago, and highlighted its Paperless KEMSA system and last-mile delivery model for health commodities to facilities.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has defended the Kenya Kwanza administration's health reforms, saying significant progress has been made in improving access to medicines, equipment and healthcare workers. The Government is preparing to provide details on the Universal Health Coverage programme, branded Taifa Care, during a town hall meeting.
President William Ruto has accused the defunct National Health Insurance Fund system of enabling theft from sick Kenyans through claims for procedures that never happened, fictitious patients and inflated bills. He called digital health systems essential to closing loopholes and described Universal Health Coverage as one of the government's most consequential social transformation efforts.
At the Kenya Health Summit 2026, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula pledged Parliament's full support for Government reforms aimed at transforming Kenya's health sector and advancing Universal Health Coverage, emphasising Parliament's critical role through legislation, resource allocation and oversight.
Kenya will host the Health Summit 2026 on August 18–19, 2025, at KICC in Nairobi, with President William Ruto expected to attend. The summit will showcase progress on Universal Health Coverage and the Government's health reforms under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
Kenya's Ministry of Health and the UAE signed a Memorandum of Understanding in January 2025 to deepen healthcare partnership, with key areas including vaccine production, expansion of primary healthcare services through the CHP programme, and strategic collaboration.
Kenya and the United States have signed a five-year health cooperation agreement worth approximately USD1.6 billion (Sh206 billion) to strengthen the country's healthcare system and advance Universal Health Coverage. The Strategic Objective Grant Agreement, signed by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi with a US delegation, establishes a framework to guide health cooperation, align US investments with Kenya's health priorities, and strengthen local institutions and infrastructure.
The Ministry of Health is establishing a government-led wheelchair service delivery system to address Kenya's estimated unmet need of about 550,000 wheelchairs. The Principal Secretary for Medical Services chaired a consultative meeting with service providers, manufacturers, and partners to explore local manufacture, tax relief on components, and improved coordination.
The Principal Secretary for Medical Services chaired a meeting of the Healthcare IT Digitization Programme Steering Committee, bringing together the Safaricom Consortium, Digital Health Authority, Social Health Authority, Kenya Medical Supplies Authority and other agencies to review progress on Universal Health Coverage digital transformation and accelerate programme delivery.
Medical intern postings in Kenya, once a flashpoint for strikes and industrial action, have become routine and predictable. This year 6,360 interns received posting letters on time, compared to 6,484 last year, marking a shift from the delays and disputes that previously characterised the process.
An opinion piece by the Principal Secretary for Medical Services notes that 6,360 young Kenyans will receive posting letters on time this Monday, marking a shift from past delays that triggered industrial action in the health sector.
President William Ruto has increased the duty-free allowance for returning travellers from Ksh.39,000 to Ksh.260,000 when assenting to the Finance Bill 2026, aiming to address concerns from Kenyans living and working abroad and other visitors.
President William Ruto has defended the Finance Bill 2026 after Parliament's approval, saying it will inject billions of shillings into healthcare, agriculture, counties and education. He announced Sh21 billion allocation to KEMSA to address medicine shortages in public hospitals and criticized opponents for using propaganda and division.
Kenya's Principal Secretary for Medical Services has challenged county health leaders to speed up Universal Health Coverage reforms, stating the country has moved from policy formulation to implementation. As of June 8, 2026, 31.39 million Kenyans had registered with the Social Health Authority, which has paid Sh147.37 billion in healthcare claims since October 2024 and contracted 11,034 health facilities nationwide.
Kenya's Treasury has proposed a Sh177.2 billion allocation to the health sector in the 2026/27 financial year to accelerate Universal Health Coverage rollout and strengthen access to essential healthcare services. Major allocations include Sh19.1 billion for Primary Health Care Funds, Sh8.6 billion for UHC staff, Sh18.5 billion for disease prevention programmes, and Sh6.4 billion for vaccines and immunisation initiatives.
The government has allocated Sh177.2 billion to the health sector in the 2026/27 budget, an increase of about Sh37.5 billion from the current financial year, with funding directed at advancing Universal Health Coverage, strengthening service delivery, and supporting programmes for communicable diseases, healthcare workforce development, and primary care.
Kirinyaga County announced a budget plan including promotions for health workers to address labour grievances and avert a planned work slowdown. The county has onboarded 237 casual employees into the payroll system and is processing 138 others for verification.
Kirinyaga County Government says it is addressing labour concerns raised by health workers, including stalled promotions and staff re-designations, with a budget proposal submitted to the County Assembly. The Chief Officer for Medical Services assures that health services will not be disrupted despite threats of industrial action.
The Kirinyaga County Government has assured residents that public healthcare services will continue uninterrupted despite a planned go-slow by health workers. The Chief Officer for Health said the county has implemented measures to maintain service delivery and is addressing worker concerns including casual labourers' wages through a new payroll system.
Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr. Ouma Oluga has defended Kenya's capacity to handle Ebola cases amid reports of a possible arrangement whereby Americans exposed to Ebola in Africa may be sent to Kenya for treatment. Dr. Oluga said the country is well-equipped to manage infectious disease outbreaks and has strengthened its capacity, particularly following COVID-19 pandemic investments.
Kenya is experiencing an acute shortage of family planning commodities that has lasted several months, with national stocks below recommended minimum levels and commonly used methods such as Depo-Provera, long-acting injections, and daily oral contraceptives at zero stock. The shortage has raised concerns over a possible rise in unplanned pregnancies and abortions, with effects felt particularly hard in low-income communities like Kibera.