The expired drugs crisis in Kenyan public hospitals

By Newsflash Team

Kenyans are now grappling with a double blow in the public health sector — a growing shortage of essential drugs and the shocking presence of expired medication in public facilities.

This revelation, confirmed by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and Newsflash’s investigation, highlights a deepening crisis in Kenya’s healthcare delivery, endangering millions of citizens who rely on public hospitals.

Appearing before the Senate this week, Mr Duale disclosed that inspections and audits by the Ministry of Health across more than 300 public hospital pharmacies — including six national referral hospitals and ten Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) depots — uncovered alarming stockpiles of expired drugs. “Many county-level public health facilities still retain large quantities of expired medicine, often beyond legal disposal timelines,” Mr Duale said, blaming the problem on insufficient budgets, logistical barriers, and neglect in pharmaceutical waste disposal under devolved governments.

Newsflash’s investigations found expired drug stockpiles in various counties including Nakuru, Trans Nzoia, Kilifi, and Lamu. These unused drugs, worth millions of shillings, continue to pile up in hospital stores, even as patients are turned away or referred to private chemists to buy their prescriptions.

Counties struggle with disposal systems

In Trans Nzoia, County Health Chief Officer Judith Simiyu attributed the problem to donor-funded medications, for which disposal protocols are often unclear. The county also struggles with proper systems to eliminate expired supplies. “Much of the expired stock results from sudden updates in treatment protocols,” said Dr Simiyu.

In Kilifi, Health Executive Committee Member Peter Mwarogo said the expired drugs date back to the pre-devolution era and are mainly linked to national programmes for tuberculosis, HIV/Aids, malaria, family planning, and neglected tropical diseases. “When national initiatives revise supply chains and send fresh consignments, drugs already in hospitals remain unused,” he explained.

Kilifi is preparing to activate a new incinerator for proper disposal but awaits a Sh5 million investment in power supply and environmental approvals. Mr Mwarogo confirmed the presence of expired stock and added that reduced hospital visits during the Covid-19 period worsened the situation. “Although the Senate’s Health Committee previously recommended destruction of the drugs, we’ve been delayed by the lack of a functioning incinerator,” he said.

In Lamu, Deputy Governor and Health Executive Dr Mbarak Bahjaj said bureaucracy is slowing drug disposal. “Several boxes of expired medicine remain in storage at facilities like Mpeketoni Sub-County Hospital in Lamu West,” he stated.

Expired drugs and broken supply chain

Mr Duale also raised concern about the growing number of private chemists setting up shop near public health facilities, warning that this trend encourages malpractice and creates a loophole for theft of government-supplied drugs. “Some staff are suspected of diverting newly supplied medicines to private outlets, denying citizens access to free treatment,” he cautioned.

The Mama Margaret Kenyatta Hospital -KNH Annex. Photo/KNH

In Nakuru County, an audit by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu exposed expired medical supplies worth Sh1.8 million stored at the Nakuru Level Five Hospital — the largest referral facility in the South Rift, serving patients from six counties: Baringo, Nyandarua, Kericho, Narok, Laikipia, and Samburu. The expired stock was discovered during an inspection on October 8, 2024, covering the 2023/2024 fiscal year.

Despite the findings, hospital officials defended their record. Medical Superintendent Dr James Waweru said most of the expired drugs were antiretrovirals and tuberculosis treatments donated by international partners. “We’ve destroyed part of the expired stock, but we’re still awaiting approval to eliminate the remaining supplies from the Global Fund,” he said.

The Auditor General criticised the hospital for lacking internal monitoring systems, warning that poor oversight of procurement and stock levels not only wastes public funds but also risks patient safety. Nonetheless, not all facilities are struggling.

At the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital in Mombasa, chief administrator Dr Iqbal Khandwalla said their facility has robust systems that ensure only long-shelf-life drugs are procured. To curb the crisis, CS Duale said Kemsa has introduced new controls — including blocking dispatch of drugs with less than six months’ shelf life unless formally cleared, implementing a First Expiry, First Out (FEFO) policy, and setting up systems for tracking and recalling expired medicines.