Health

KEMSA announces five-day closure from July 1

The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority has announced a five-day closure for its annual stock take. (Photo: State Department for Public Works)

By Maureen Kinyanjui | Tuesday, June 18, 2024

The closure will affect the authority's Nairobi and regional distribution centres beginning July 1st to July 5th.

Medical supply to health facilities has been temporarily suspended after the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) announced a five-day closure.

In a notice on Tuesday, the KEMSA said the closure has been necessitated in order for the authority to take its annual stock take.

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The closure will affect the authority's Nairobi and regional distribution centres beginning July 1st to July 5th.

"We wish to notify our esteemed customers and the general public that we shall close our Nairobi and Regional Distribution Centers for the annual stock-take effective Monday 1st to Friday 5th July 2024," Kemsa said.

During this period, the authority said, receipt and dispatch of medical supplies will be suspended.

However, KEMSA said emergency cases shall be attended to.

"We shall resume our normal operation from Monday, July 8, 2024," reads the notice.

KEMSA is a state corporation established under the Ministry of Health under the Kemsa Act 2013.

It is mandated to procure, warehouse and distribute Health Products and Technologies (HPTs) for prescribed public health programs, the national strategic stock reserves, prescribed essential health packages and national referral hospitals.

Sh3 billion debt

Last month, a Senate committee ordered KEMSA to stop delivering medical supplies to counties over a Sh3 billion debt.

The Senate Health Committee directed the agency after revelations that almost all the county governments have accumulated massive debts. Only Wajir County does not owe Kemsa.

Some counties have not paid Kemsa for more than two years.

KEMSA CEO Andrew Mulwa told the committee that counties have failed to pay despite frequent reminders and threats to cut supplies. The team is chaired by Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago.

"We confirm that KEMSA's debts owed by the counties as of May 8, 2024, is Sh3.03 billion. Out of this amount, Sh2.08 billion has been outstanding for more than 90 days," Mulwa said.

"We have counties with accumulated debts beyond 730 days. That is more than two years. For example, Homa Bay and Nakuru."

Mulwa termed seven counties "notorious", adding that the devolved units have even cut links with KEMSA.

They are Nairobi, Homa Bay, Taita Taveta, Makueni, Kakamega, Trans Nzoia and Kisumu counties.

"These counties no longer buy drugs from us. Nairobi, for instance, last procured from us in January 2023," Mulwa said.

The current law mandates public entities, including counties, to strictly procure their health commodities from KEMSA.

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