A Sh1 billion loss in medicines reported by the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) has sparked concern in the Senate, with lawmakers questioning the management of essential drugs from health facilities to their eventual disposal.
The Senate Standing Committee on Health raised the issue on Thursday, September 17, 2026, as it engaged Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) Chief Executive Officer Dr Ahmed Mohamed over the regulation and management of pharmaceutical products.
The committee, led by Senator Jackson Mandago, was also following up on resolutions reached after its county oversight and networking engagements.
The reported value of the expired medicines was contained in a KEMSA report presented to the committee, prompting senators to demand tighter controls to prevent drugs from going unused until they expire.
The committee said the reported loss was worrying at a time when public health facilities continue to depend on supplies of essential medicines to serve patients.
Senators raised concerns that the expiry of drugs could have consequences beyond the loss of public money, particularly where patients depend on government hospitals and health centres for treatment.
The committee called for improved supervision throughout the pharmaceutical supply chain to ensure medicines are properly managed after reaching health facilities.
It also stressed the need for systems that can help facilities monitor their stocks and identify medicines that are approaching their expiry dates.
Dr Ahmed told the committee that the PPB valued the Senate’s oversight work and was acting on recommendations arising from the committee’s engagements in counties.
He said the Board was putting in place several measures to improve regulation of pharmaceutical services and health products across the country.
These include stronger rules, risk-based inspections, better management of pharmaceutical waste, digital systems and improved licensing processes.
The PPB is also enforcing mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements for pharmacy professionals.
The Board said the measures are aimed at improving accountability across the pharmaceutical supply chain while supporting the quality, safety and availability of pharmaceutical services.
Senate raises disposal concerns
The handling of medicines after they expire also came under scrutiny during the meeting.
The committee directed that health facilities dealing with expired pharmaceutical products must hold the required licences and follow the approved procedures for their safe disposal.
The senators said such controls were necessary to ensure expired medicines do not remain in health facilities or re-enter the healthcare supply chain.
They also noted that some pharmaceutical products require careful handling during disposal to protect people and the environment from possible harm.
The Senate committee’s concerns have drawn attention to the entire process through which medicines move from procurement and distribution to storage, dispensing and disposal.
The committee noted that poor stock control can lead to medicines expiring before they are used, especially when the quantities supplied to facilities do not correspond with actual demand.
It therefore called for stronger oversight of medicine stocks to enable facilities to keep track of available supplies and take action when products are nearing their expiry dates.
The PPB’s digital transformation programme and enhanced licensing systems form part of the measures expected to improve tracking and accountability in the pharmaceutical sector.
The Senate’s intervention comes as the government continues efforts to improve access to healthcare through Universal Health Coverage, placing greater focus on how public medical supplies are managed to avoid unnecessary losses.