The Kenyan Senate has raised grave concerns over a worsening blood shortage in the nation’s hospitals, prompting urgent calls for a complete overhaul of the country’s blood transfusion services. Senators warned that the critical shortage is placing countless lives at risk, with blood banks running low and essential laboratory reagents in short supply. This alarming situation has been attributed to years of inadequate government intervention, a lack of public awareness about blood donation, and systemic inefficiencies within the healthcare system.
At the heart of the debate, Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu petitioned the Senate Committee on Health to take decisive action to address the crisis. She questioned the effectiveness of the Ministry of Health and the Kenya Blood Transfusion and Transplant Service in ensuring a reliable supply of safe blood for transfusion. Kavindu emphasized that despite repeated alerts over the years, the situation has deteriorated, with hospitals now struggling to meet the increasing demand for blood caused by population growth, the rise in traffic accidents, and the spread of chronic illnesses. She stressed the need for public education initiatives to combat myths and misconceptions that discourage Kenyans from donating blood, which have significantly contributed to the persistent shortages.
This Senate intervention follows a parallel concern raised in the National Assembly by Mukurweini MP John Kaguchia, who highlighted the dire shortage of blood testing kits and collection bags. According to Kaguchia, the Kenya National Blood Transfusion Service is currently unable to screen and process donated blood due to the lack of essential supplies, leading to the tragic wastage of life-saving donations. He urged for immediate solutions and long-term strategies to guarantee the continuous availability of screened blood for patients across the country. Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has since directed the Committee on Health to present a report on the issue by April 1, 2025.
The crisis is further compounded by a sharp decline in blood collection figures. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Kenya collected approximately 450 units of blood daily. However, this number has now plummeted to a mere 120 to 140 units per day, falling drastically short of the country’s annual requirement of between 500,000 and one million units. This shortfall not only puts lives at risk but also exposes systemic weaknesses in Kenya’s health infrastructure.
In response, lawmakers are reviewing a new legislative proposal—the Kenya National Blood Transfusion Bill—that seeks to combat the illegal trade of human blood and improve regulation of donation and transfusion services. The Bill, which is under scrutiny by the Parliamentary Budget Office, proposes steep fines of up to Sh20 million and jail terms of up to ten years for those found guilty of trafficking human blood. The legislation also aims to empower the Kenya Tissue and Transplant Authority to oversee all aspects of blood management, including testing, storage, and quality control, in alignment with international standards set by the World Health Organization.
Audits have previously exposed serious shortcomings in Kenya’s blood transfusion systems, including poor inventory management and significant inefficiencies. Disturbingly, some of the blood collected in Kenya has been smuggled to neighboring countries, with investigations underway to determine the involvement of healthcare professionals in this illegal trade. The proposed law would introduce stringent controls and establish a national organ donation registry, further ensuring ethical practices in the sector.
As Kenya grapples with financial constraints that have crippled its blood transfusion services, senators are now calling for comprehensive reforms and increased investment to avert further loss of life and safeguard public health.
