Kenya is currently facing an unprecedented healthcare crisis, with critical medical supplies running out across the country. This includes essential HIV medicines, testing kits, vaccines, and condoms, leaving millions of lives at risk. Public and private hospitals are grappling with severe shortages of Atazanavir, a vital HIV drug, and other supplies like BCG vaccines for newborns and HIV-testing equipment. The shortages have worsened since the Christmas period, leaving many patients without access to necessary treatments.
Kenya has 1.378 million people living with HIV, and the lack of medication threatens to undo years of progress in combating the epidemic. The country recorded 16,752 new HIV infections in 2024, including 10,784 in women and 5,968 in men. In addition, 20,480 AIDS-related deaths were reported last year, with 2,607 of those being children. This shortage of antiretroviral therapy (ART) could place many individuals, particularly discordant couples, at a higher risk of contracting HIV.
The crisis extends beyond HIV-related supplies. There is also a shortage of vaccines, with BCG vaccines, which protect newborns against tuberculosis, completely out of stock. While 2.6 million doses are expected to arrive by late January, many infants born in the past six months remain unvaccinated. This delay has been attributed to global procurement challenges, though the situation is expected to improve soon. In the meantime, caregivers have been advised to ensure their children receive other available vaccines.
Refugee camps are also severely affected by the shortage of medical supplies. In Kakuma, buffer stocks for essential vaccines have been depleted, while in Dadaab, only 60 doses of oral polio vaccine remain. The situation in these camps is particularly dire, as many refugees are already living in precarious conditions and are now at even greater risk due to the lack of basic healthcare services.
The broader healthcare system is also struggling to stay operational. A recent survey found that 89% of healthcare facilities in Kenya are unable to cover their operational costs, and 87% are having difficulty meeting payroll expenses. This financial strain is compounded by mismanagement and corruption within the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa), which has been criticized for poor inventory management and discrepancies in stock balances. Last year, over one million condoms, 908,000 mosquito nets, and tuberculosis drugs worth millions of shillings were reported missing from Kemsa warehouses.
Kemsa has also failed to deliver the 31 million condoms it was supposed to distribute, and the remaining stock of HIV testing kits is quickly running out. The Health Ministry has issued guidelines to optimize the use of the limited supplies available, including transitioning patients to alternative HIV drug regimens. However, these measures are not a permanent solution, and many patients are left without the medications they need for their survival.
For a country that has been a regional leader in healthcare, especially in its fight against HIV/AIDS, the current shortages threaten to reverse decades of progress. The government has promised that supplies will begin to arrive by February, but for thousands of patients who rely on daily medication and for new mothers seeking vaccines for their children, these assurances offer little immediate relief. The healthcare system’s challenges reflect deeper systemic issues that need urgent attention if Kenya is to avoid a full-blown healthcare disaster.
