The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) has increased its Order Fill Rate from about 40 per cent to more than 90 per cent, marking a significant improvement in the availability of medicines and other health products in public health facilities.
KEMSA Chief Executive Officer Dr Ejersa Waqo attributed the turnaround to changes in demand forecasting, stock management, procurement and engagement with healthcare stakeholders.
Speaking during a Health Systems Performance session at the 2026 Kenya Health Summit at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on Wednesday, Waqo said the authority had shifted from simply managing thousands of products to understanding what healthcare facilities actually need.
“We called our stakeholders to help us decide what they need,” Waqo said.
KEMSA changes stock management approach
Waqo said KEMSA had previously been managing nearly 3,800 Stock Keeping Units (SKUs), making it difficult to ensure that the most critical health products were consistently available.
The authority has since adopted a demand-driven approach that prioritises essential Health Products and Technologies based on actual requirements from healthcare facilities.
KEMSA has also introduced a “shrink and grow” strategy, reducing unnecessary inventory while increasing the availability of products that are in higher demand.
Waqo said consultations with stakeholders revealed that the authority was holding large quantities of stock while operating with limited resources.
The new approach is intended to reduce resources tied up in excess inventory while ensuring critical commodities are available where they are needed most.
New contracts target supply shortages
KEMSA has introduced two-year framework contracts with suppliers to improve predictability in procurement and create a more consistent flow of health products.
Waqo said the contracts would help shift the authority from reactive procurement towards a system that can anticipate demand and reduce the risk of stockouts.
The authority has also embraced technology to improve visibility across its supply chain.
Through the Commodity Early Warning and Alert System (CEWAS), KEMSA is using data to determine what products should be stocked, where they should be distributed and when they should be replenished.
Kindiki urges KEMSA to sustain gains
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki welcomed the improvement, noting that KEMSA had faced significant challenges in 2022.
He said the rise in the Order Fill Rate from about 40 per cent to more than 90 per cent demonstrated substantial progress, but cautioned that the gains must be sustained.
Kindiki called for stronger integration of KEMSA’s Logistics Management Information System with other government systems.
He said improved interoperability would strengthen the quality and use of data while supporting the government’s wider digitisation agenda.
The Health Systems Performance session was chaired by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and brought together health sector leaders, including Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki, Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo, Healthcare Federation Chairman Dr Kanyenje Gakombe, AGC Tenwek CEO Ben Siele and Kenyatta National Hospital CEO Dr Richard Lesiyampe.
The improvements at KEMSA come as Kenya seeks to strengthen the reliability of its public health supply chain and ensure healthcare facilities have essential medicines and medical commodities when they need them.
