The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) has launched a nationwide stocktaking exercise across all its warehouses in a fresh push to restore accountability and accuracy in the country’s health supply chain.
The two-week exercise, which began this week, is expected to cover the physical verification of all Health Products and Technologies (HPTs) against digital records.
The move comes as part of KEMSA’s broader transformation into a demand-driven, data-powered institution capable of ensuring the timely delivery of essential medical supplies.
According to KEMSA CEO Waqo Ejersa, the stocktaking will involve capturing batch numbers, shelf life, and inventory conditions in line with international accounting and reporting standards.
The results of the exercise will be included in the agency’s financial statements and used to improve forecasting and procurement.
“This is not just a routine check — it’s a critical foundation for accountability and service delivery,” Dr Waqo said, noting that improved inventory accuracy will help ensure uninterrupted access to life-saving medicines across Kenya’s 47 counties.
Adding that “Stocktaking is not a backroom task—it’s a frontline tool in our mission to save lives. By knowing exactly what we have, where it is, and what condition it is in, we can plan smarter, respond faster, and deliver better.”
According to KEMSA, to preserve the integrity of the process, independent stock takers have been deployed across departments, while the Operations Directorate has been tasked with ensuring systematic arrangement of inventory and warehouse hygiene for precise counting and reconciliation.
The exercise will involve the physical verification of stocks against system records in the Logistics Management Information System (LMIS), capturing vital data including batch numbers and shelf life.
Thereafter, the findings will be fed directly into KEMSA’s financial statements, in full compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and best practice in public resource management.
Meanwhile, with the exercise expected to be undertaken in all 47 counties, the supply agencies revealed that it would assist them to forecast demand more accurately, reduce expiries, minimize waste, and ensure continuous access to life-saving commodities across all devolved units.
“This is how we build trust in the system—through data, discipline, and delivery,” added Dr Waqo. “KEMSA is evolving into a fully demand-driven, data-powered supply chain institution—and this stocktake is a cornerstone of that transformation.”
