President William Ruto has announced sweeping reforms at the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) aimed at fixing drug shortages and restoring efficiency in the country’s medical supply system.

In a statement shared on his official X account on Thursday, October 30, 2025, President Ruto said the government is implementing a bold transformation plan to make KEMSA more effective, sustainable, and reliable in ensuring that hospitals across the country have consistent access to essential medicines.

“We are undertaking a bold transformation of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) to make it more efficient, sustainable, and effective, raising its current drug availability rate from 48 per cent to 68 per cent,” said the President.

The reforms come after years of public concern over frequent drug shortages in public hospitals and delayed deliveries of essential medical commodities. KEMSA, the state agency tasked with procuring and distributing drugs, has faced criticism over inefficiencies and corruption scandals that disrupted services in many health facilities. President Ruto said the ultimate goal of the ongoing reforms is to achieve full drug availability in all public hospitals by the end of the year.

“Our ultimate goal is to achieve a 100 per cent refill rate by the end of the year, ensuring consistent access to essential medicines and other commodities and thus improve health outcomes for all citizens,” he said.

The President also announced a Ksh150 million investment to equip and upgrade a key hospital as part of the wider plan to improve healthcare delivery and restore dignity in public health institutions.

“We are further investing Ksh150 million to equip and upgrade the hospital, guaranteeing modern facilities, quality care, and greater dignity in healthcare delivery,” he said.

Ruto’s announcement signals a renewed focus on strengthening the supply chain and ensuring that Kenyans, especially those in rural and underserved areas, can access reliable and affordable medical care.

The overhaul of KEMSA marks one of the government’s biggest steps yet in addressing the gaps that have long weakened the public health system and burdened patients who often have to buy drugs out-of-pocket due to stockouts in hospitals.