Reforms Deliver Results as KEMSA CEO Dr. Waqo Ejersa Visits Kwale

KEMSA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Waqo Ejersa has taken the Authority’s sweeping reform campaign to Kwale County, the second leg of his nationwide county engagement tour, as far-reaching efficiency and accountability measures begin to deliver tangible results in the supply of essential Health Products and Technologies (HPTs).

On the second day of his field engagements, Dr. Ejersa is assessing the impact of KEMSA’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative at Msambweni County Referral Hospital, where the Authority revamped and modernized a drug store to strengthen commodity management and ensure a steady, reliable flow of medicines to the last mile.

“Our focus is on impact not promises,” said Dr. Ejersa. “The reforms we are implementing are translating into faster service delivery, timely order fulfillment, and stronger partnerships with counties. What we did at Msambweni is a model for how smart, targeted investments in health infrastructure can transform medicine management at the grassroots.”

Kwale County, one of KEMSA’s key customers, has demonstrated renewed confidence in the Authority’s reformed systems.

The County’s HPT budget has surged from KSh180 million to KSh300 million in FY2025/26, a KSh120 million rebound that underscores growing trust in KEMSA’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and reliability.

“Counties are responding positively to our reforms,” Dr. Ejersa noted. “This rebound in Kwale’s health products budget shows that trust is being rebuilt. Our role is to sustain that trust through efficiency, accountability, and consistent delivery.”

Under Dr. Ejersa’s reform watch, KEMSA has transformed from a sluggish bureaucracy into an agile supply powerhouse cutting delays, improving prices and delivering medicines to the last mile with speed and consistency.

During the Kwale visit, Dr. Ejersa is engaging the county leadership including; Governor Fatuma Achani, her Deputy Governor, and County Executives for Health and Finance, to reinforce fiscal discipline, advocate for ring-fenced HPT budgets and promote quarterly order forecasting aligned with KEMSA’s replenishment cycles to eliminate stockouts.

“Counties are our partners in health,” Dr. Ejersa emphasized.

 “Together, we must institutionalize systems that guarantee continuous commodity availability and protect patients from the pain of ‘hakuna dawa’ moments.”

The CEO, who was accompanied by Director of Commercial Services and Director of Finance and Accounts, reaffirmed KEMSA’s role as a social enterprise dedicated to service rather than profit.

“KEMSA exists for counties and for Kenyans. Our pride is in the service we deliver,” he said.

 “Our Order Fulfillment Rates have risen sharply, turnaround times are down and we are prioritizing timely payments to suppliers so they can continue serving you efficiently. We urge counties, including Kwale, to also prioritize payments to KEMSA, this ensures steady restocking and a stable supply chain.”

Dr. Ejersa further announced the establishment of a fully fledged Quality Assurance Department to safeguard the integrity of health commodities and uphold patient safety.

“We’ve created equity in pricing, regardless of distance, to ensure all counties from Nairobi to Kwale can access affordable, quality medicines as we drive toward Universal Health Coverage,” he added.

Governor Fatuma Achani reaffirmed Kwale’s loyalty and confidence in KEMSA, noting that the county sources all its medical supplies exclusively from the Authority.

“Kwale is a loyal customer of KEMSA and we are encouraged by the improved refill rate,” said Governor Achani. 

“We currently operate 174 health facilities and look forward to digital tools that help track deliveries to the last mile. We will continue honoring our obligations, including the outstanding KSh64 million to sustain this vital partnership.”

As the reform drive gains ground, KEMSA’s transformation story is moving beyond Nairobi boardrooms into real impact across counties, where efficient systems, trusted partnerships and reliable drug supply chains are redefining public healthcare delivery.

“Our mission is simple,” Dr. Ejersa concluded. “To make ‘hakuna dawa’ a phrase of the past and ensure every Kenyan, wherever they live, can access the medicines they need, when they need them.”