The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) is stepping up efforts to improve medicine storage in public health facilities, beginning with the refurbishment of a medicine store at Port Reitz Sub-County Hospital in Mombasa to protect the quality of essential drugs and strengthen patient safety.
The upgraded facility was officially handed over on October 26, 2026, in a ceremony presided over by Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Sheriff Nassir. The project is expected to benefit more than 300,000 people served by the hospital and surrounding communities in Changamwe and Jomvu constituencies.
The refurbishment addresses infrastructure deficiencies that had limited the hospital’s ability to store and manage medical supplies under appropriate conditions. KEMSA said the improvements are intended to strengthen medicine handling, stock control and the efficient use of storage space.
The initiative highlights an often-overlooked aspect of healthcare delivery: medicines must not only be purchased and delivered to hospitals but also stored correctly to preserve their quality before they reach patients.
Why proper medicine storage matters
Medicines can lose their quality and effectiveness when exposed to unsuitable temperatures, excessive moisture, pests or poor handling. Inadequate storage can also result in damaged supplies, avoidable wastage and increased costs for already stretched healthcare facilities.
KEMSA Chief Executive Officer Dr Waqo Ejersa said safeguarding medicines must continue beyond procurement and delivery, noting that appropriate storage conditions are essential to preserving the integrity of medical products.
The authority said the Port Reitz project followed an assessment conducted in April 2025 involving KEMSA, Mombasa County officials and hospital management. The assessment identified inadequate storage capacity and deteriorating infrastructure that affected the facility’s ability to manage medical commodities effectively.
The upgrades are intended to create a safer environment for receiving, storing and issuing medicines, while reducing the risks associated with environmental exposure and poor stock management.
Inside the Port Reitz hospital upgrades
The refurbishment, implemented under KEMSA’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme for the 2025/2026 financial year, included structural improvements and measures to support more appropriate storage conditions.
The work included:
Installing a ceiling and air-conditioning system to support temperature control.
Improving floors and reinforcing cracked walls.
Fitting additional windows with security grills and installing suitable doors.
Repairing storage racks to improve the organisation of medical supplies.
Constructing office and washroom facilities.
Installing gutters and improving perimeter drainage to help manage rainwater and reduce the risk of water damage and pest intrusion.
The changes are designed to improve the handling of medicines and other medical commodities while helping staff organise stock and use available storage space more efficiently.
However, infrastructure improvements alone cannot guarantee medicine safety. Facilities must also monitor temperatures, maintain accurate inventory records, service equipment regularly and follow the recommended storage requirements for individual products.
These measures are particularly important for medicines that require controlled temperatures or protection from moisture and light.
KEMSA expands support to other health facilities
The Port Reitz project builds on similar medicine-store improvements previously undertaken at Mtwapa Sub-County Hospital in Kilifi County and Msambweni County Referral Hospital in Kwale County.
KEMSA has also supported laboratory infrastructure projects, including work at Nyonjoro Health Centre in Nakuru County, while another laboratory project at Dakabaricha Dispensary in Marsabit County was reported to be nearing completion.
The projects form part of the authority’s wider efforts to address infrastructure and service-delivery gaps in public healthcare facilities.
KEMSA operates under the Ministry of Health and is responsible for procuring, warehousing and distributing medical commodities to public health facilities across Kenya. Its role places it at a critical point in the healthcare supply chain, linking the availability of medical supplies to their safe storage and eventual use.
The authority has also emphasised the importance of cooperation between national institutions and county governments in maintaining reliable access to essential medicines.
Governor Nassir said Mombasa County remained committed to working with KEMSA to improve access to quality and affordable medicines and other essential medical supplies.
Infrastructure must be matched with reliable supplies
Although improved storage can help preserve medicines and reduce avoidable losses, reliable healthcare delivery also depends on adequate funding, timely procurement, efficient distribution and consistent ordering by health facilities.
KEMSA has highlighted predictable financing and timely payments as important elements in maintaining the flow of essential medical commodities to counties. Without these measures, even a well-equipped medicine store may struggle to maintain adequate stock levels.
For county hospitals, the challenge is therefore twofold: ensuring that medicines are available when patients need them and preserving their quality throughout the supply chain.
The Port Reitz refurbishment represents a practical intervention in that process, although its longer-term impact will depend on how effectively the facility maintains the upgraded infrastructure and follows proper storage procedures.
KEMSA’s refurbishment of the Port Reitz Sub-County Hospital medicine store marks a step towards improving the safety and management of essential medicines in Kenya’s public healthcare system.
By upgrading storage infrastructure and strengthening stock-management practices, the authority aims to reduce medicine deterioration, minimise wastage and support safer patient care for a population of more than 300,000 people.
The initiative also underscores the importance of investing in the systems that protect medicines after delivery, rather than focusing solely on procurement and distribution.
