President William Ruto has announced a major government initiative aimed at ending the persistent shortage of essential medicines in public health facilities across Kenya. Speaking at State House while flagging off a fleet of disease surveillance vehicles for the counties, Ruto unveiled a Sh10 billion injection into the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (Kemsa) to boost its medicine refill rate from 50 percent to 100 percent.
The move is part of the government’s broader strategy to strengthen the medical supply chain, reduce healthcare costs, and ensure equitable access to quality health services. “Kemsa now has no absolute excuse not to supply every commodity required by the counties,” Ruto stated firmly.
The President emphasized the need for collaboration between the national government, county governments, and the newly established Social Health Authority (SHA). He called on governors to honor their financial obligations to Kemsa to ensure a smooth and sustainable supply of medicines.
“Counties must agree that as we settle their SHA claims, they also commit to paying for the medicines supplied,” he urged.
Ruto acknowledged that the shortage of drugs commonly referred to by Kenyans as the “hakuna dawa” problem remains a significant concern, but assured citizens that the government is committed to resolving the issue once and for all.
He also addressed concerns over job security amid the ongoing transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to SHA. The President reassured NHIF staff that their jobs are secure, noting that those not absorbed into SHA will be redeployed to other roles within the public service. “As promised, NHIF staff have been given priority in the recruitment process,” he said.
Additionally, Ruto revealed that the government is leveraging digital technologies to make healthcare delivery paperless and more efficient within the next six months. This digitization initiative is aimed at enhancing transparency and eliminating fraud in the health sector.
With these reforms, Ruto affirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring that no Kenyan is denied essential medical care due to a lack of medicine or inefficient systems.
