Auditor‑General Nancy Gathungu has issued a stinging warning over the issuance of untested and expired medical drugs to patients in Kenya’s public hospitals, exposing sizeable gaps in pharmaceutical oversight with life‑threatening implications.
Her latest audit reports covering the 2023/2024 financial year reveal that multiple counties including Nakuru and Bomet are stockpiling expired medicines worth millions of shillings, despite critical shortages, lack of inventory controls, and inadequate disposal mechanisms.
At Nakuru Level Five Hospital, auditors discovered expired medical supplies valued at approximately Sh1.8 million in storage as of October 8, 2024.
These expired items included HIV and tuberculosis medications donated via program channels, some of which remained undisposed months after expiry. Hospital management admitted partial destruction but said authorization to eliminate remaining stock is still pending.
Meanwhile, at Longisa County Referral Hospital in Bomet, auditors flagged 85 units of expired drugs including intraocular lenses and AV fistula sets stored alongside unexpired supplies, even as the facility battled severe medicine shortages.
The audit highlighted systemic failure, pointing to absence of inventory controls and violation of first‑expiry, first‑out (FEFO) protocols.
The audit further follows a Senate inquiry led by CPIC Committee Chair Senator Godfrey Osotsi, who stressed that expired drugs remain prevalent in county hospitals despite repeated Auditor‑General warnings. He flagged the absence of proper records and raised concerns over dubious referral practices and the risk of administering dangerous medicines to unsuspecting patients.
In response, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale described the issue as a national crisis. He confirmed that more than 300 public hospitals including major referral facilities and Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) depots were found to be storing expired medicines beyond allowable disposal timelines.
Duale attributed the problem to insufficient funding, logistical failures, and devolved governance lapses, adding that counties were struggling with unclear protocols for donor‑supplied medications.
Duale also flagged a worrying trend of unverified private pharmacies operating near public hospitals, which may be benefiting from negligence in public drug supply systems. He urged implementation of real‑time expiry tracking technology and FEFO compliance to curb malpractice and protect patients.
The Auditor‑General underscored that untested or expired drugs not only waste public funds but also endanger patient safety and erode public trust. She noted that weak internal controls and lax oversight have turned public hospitals into reservoirs of unusable, potentially harmful medicines.
In many cases, poor procurement practices such as acquiring short‑shelf‑life drugs exacerbate the risk, leaving health facilities with spoiled stock that may end up in patient care.
Experts warn that unless urgent corrective measures are taken such as strengthening county-level pharmaceutical governance, deploying tracking systems, enforcing disposal protocols, and enhancing transparency the recurring problem could undermine Kenya’s entire healthcare delivery system.
Affected communities and health professionals are calling for immediate reforms, a full medical audit of public hospitals, and clarity on the role of county officials and Kemsa in ensuring drug safety.
In summary, the Auditor‑General’s findings paint a bleak picture of Kenya’s public health supply chain. Despite persistent medicine shortages, hospitals are issuing expired or unvetted drugs.
Without swift intervention from national policy to county procurement practices patient health remains at risk, and public confidence in the system continues to erode.
Written By Ian Maleve
