Wednesday, 23 September 2026

Kenya’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026

Wednesday, 23 September 2026

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Kenyan press · Organization

Kenya Medical Supplies Authority

Also known as: KEMSA

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.

2026-05-162026-09-23

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

June 2026
23 JunCitizen Digital
… He added that KEMSA funding has increased from Ksh.5 billion to Ksh.21 billion to strengthen the supply of medicines and medical commodities across the country. …
Ruto increases duty-free allowance from Ksh.39K to Ksh.260K as he assents to Finance Bill 2026
19 JunCapital News
… Ruto said the Finance Bill would provide additional funding to the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) to address medicine shortages in public hospitals. …
Ruto defends Finance Bill 2026, lists big wins for Kenyans
Government allocates Sh177.2 billion to health sector for universal coverage
1. 12 JunCapital News
  … He also urged county governments to improve utilisation of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) system by making timely orders and strengthening inventory management. …
  PS Oluga Seeks Stronger County Partnership in UHC Implementation
2. 11 JunCapital News
  … To strengthen medical supply chains, the government has allocated Sh20.9 billion to the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), while the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) is set to receive Sh3.1 billion to support health research and innovation. …
  Government Allocates Sh177.2 Billion to Health Sector in Push for Universal Health Coverage
11 JunThe Standard
… The National Treasury proposes a targeted allocation of Sh45.3 billion for the referral hospitals.#BudgetDay2026 pic.twitter.com/uaNSYvTwOA — KTN News (@KTNNewsKE) June 11, 2026 The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) has been allocated Sh20.9 billion to improve the supply a …
Big win as Health sector secures Sh177 billion allocation
3 JunThe Standard
… The Chief Officer said all public medical facilities within the county have adequate supplies of medical supplies to support effective service delivery. “In April, the County Government placed a major order for medicines and medical supplies through KEMSA, supplemented by procure …
Kirinyaga announces plan to promote health workers to ward off strike
2 JunCitizen Digital
… He attributed this to a major procurement undertaken through the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) in April, supplemented by purchases from local suppliers for items unavailable through the national agency. …
Kirinyaga County moves to address health workers' grievances amid go-slow threat
2 JunCapital News
… The county government also announced that it had placed a major order for medicines and medical supplies through the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA). …
Kirinyaga Assures Residents of Uninterrupted Healthcare Amid Health Workers’ Go-Slow
May 2026
28 MayCitizen Digital
… Oluga pointed to Kenya's logistical infrastructure as another advantage, citing the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority's last-mile distribution network and ongoing efforts by international agencies to establish regional logistics hubs in the country. …
'We're ready,' PS Oluga says amid reports Americans exposed to Ebola may be sent to Kenya
16 MayCitizen Digital
… National stocks remain in a critical state, with the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) reporting that most commodities are below the recommended minimum stock level of 16 months. …
Condom shortage raises fears of rise in unplanned pregnancies

Society

Senate committee demands accountability for Sh1bn in expired medicines

The News

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.

18 September 2026 · Capital News →

Friday 18 September

Senate committee demands accountability for Sh1bn in expired medicines
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.
18 September 2026 · Capital News →

Tuesday 15 September

West Pokot receives Sh81 million health supplies for 173 facilities
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.
15 September 2026 · The Standard →

Tuesday 1 September

Kenya secures Pfizer deal cutting cancer drug prices sevenfold
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.
1 September 2026 · Capital News →

Monday 31 August

Kenya and Pfizer agree to cut cancer drug prices
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.
31 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Saturday 29 August

MOH launches coordinated plan for El Niño health risks
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.
29 August 2026 · Capital News →

Saturday 22 August

Kenya health summit reviews progress toward universal coverage goals
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.
22 August 2026 · The Standard →

Thursday 20 August

Kindiki stresses county role in Kenya's health reforms
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.
20 August 2026 · The Standard →

Wednesday 19 August

KEMSA raises medicine availability from 40% to over 90% in public facilities
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.
19 August 2026 · Capital News →
KEMSA increases Order Fill Rate to over 90% through supply chain reforms
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.
19 August 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Tuesday 18 August

President Ruto tours KEMSA digital transformation at Health Summit
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.
18 August 2026 · Capital News →
Duale defends Kenya Kwanza health reforms and UHC programme
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.
18 August 2026 · The Standard →
Ruto criticizes old NHIF system as enabling theft from patients
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.
18 August 2026 · The Standard →
Parliament pledges backing for Kenya health sector reforms
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.
18 August 2026 · The Standard →

Monday 17 August

Kenya to hold Health Summit 2026 in August 2025
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.
17 August 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya-UAE healthcare partnership deepens through January 2025 MoU
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.
17 August 2026 · The Standard →

Wednesday 15 July

Kenya, US sign five-year USD1.6 billion health cooperation agreement
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.
15 July 2026 · Capital News →
Kenya plans government wheelchair service for 550,000 unmet needs
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.
15 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Thursday 9 July

SHA, DHA, KEMSA convene to advance healthcare digitization
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.
9 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Monday 29 June

Medical intern postings now routine, timely under current administration
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.
29 June 2026 · The Standard →

Friday 26 June

Kenya's health workforce posting now predictable, timely
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.
26 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Tuesday 23 June

Ruto raises duty-free allowance to Ksh.260K from Ksh.39K
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.
23 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Friday 19 June

President Ruto defends Finance Bill 2026 passage in Parliament
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.
19 June 2026 · Capital News →

Friday 12 June

PS Oluga urges counties to accelerate UHC reforms implementation
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.
12 June 2026 · Capital News →

Thursday 11 June

Government allocates Sh177.2 billion to health sector for universal coverage
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.
11 June 2026 · Capital News →
Health sector gets Sh177.2 billion in 2026/27 budget allocation
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.
11 June 2026 · The Standard →

Wednesday 3 June

Kirinyaga County plans promotions to head off health worker strike
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.
3 June 2026 · The Standard →

Tuesday 2 June

Kirinyaga County addresses health workers' grievances amid go-slow threat
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.
2 June 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Kirinyaga County assures healthcare services during health workers' go-slow
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.
2 June 2026 · Capital News →

Thursday 28 May

PS Oluga affirms Kenya ready for possible Ebola cases
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.
28 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Saturday 16 May

Kenya faces critical shortage of family planning commodities
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.
16 May 2026 · Citizen Digital →