The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) has announced a temporary closure of its Nairobi Regional Distribution Centre for four days to conduct its annual stocktake.
In a notice issued on Tuesday, June 17, KEMSA stated that the closure will take effect from Tuesday, July 1, 2025, to Friday, July 4, 2025.
The authority added that the operations at the facility will resume on Monday, July 7, 2025.
“We wish to notify our esteemed customers and the general public that we shall close our Nairobi Regional Distribution Centres for the annual stock take effective Tuesday, July 1, to Friday, July 4, 2025,” the notice reads.
The authority also noted that all operations relating to the receipt and dispatch of medical supplies will be put on hold during this period.
KEMSA said that only emergency cases will be attended to, and clients are urged to make necessary arrangements ahead of the suspension to avoid supply disruptions.
“During this period, receipt and dispatch of medication supplies will be suspended. Only emergency cases will be attended to,” the authority stated.
KEMSA is responsible for conducting national public health logistics. It is also responsible for procuring, warehousing, and distributing essential drugs and medical commodities to referral hospitals, public health programmes, and national reserves.
An annual stock audit helps KEMSA identify and reconcile electronic records with physical stocks and value inventory in line with financial reporting standards.
On April 1, the Ministry of Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced that KEMSA is facing drug and other health product stock shortages.
Duale said the shortage is due to the lack of finances to replenish health products and technologies at KEMSA
"The current order fill rate at KEMSA stands at 43 per cent. This is due to the fact that KEMSA is facing stockouts due to a lack of finances to replenish health products and technologies," he said.
