Public Procurement Board Clears KEMSA to Buy Sh2.8 Billion Lifesaving HIV Drugs Amid Supply Pressures

By benadeta mwaura - Reporter

Kenya, January 15 2026 - The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) Board has cleared the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) to proceed with the purchase of Sh2.8 billion ($19 million approx.) worth of antiretroviral (ARV) medicines and other lifesaving HIV drugs, officials said on Thursday, in a key step toward addressing ongoing supply concerns in the national HIV response.

The approval comes amid heightened anxiety over HIV drug supplies, following funding disruptions tied to changes in international aid flows and previous projections that Kenya could run short of critical medicines without urgent procurement. ARVs, the backbone of HIV treatment, suppress the virus to undetectable levels, preventing progression to AIDS and reducing transmission.

Kenya has made significant gains in its HIV response, with coverage of antiretroviral therapy (ART) rising to around 97% among those eligible, according to health officials. However, supply chain stresses have emerged in recent years. In early 2025, government assessments warned that stock levels of key ARVs like Tenofovir/Lamivudine/Dolutegravir (TLD) and others could drop dangerously low by May without timely replenishment, prompting calls for expedited procurement and donor mobilisation.

By clearing KEMSA’s purchase, regulators hope to avert potential stockouts that could disrupt treatment for hundreds of thousands of people living with HIV, a group numbering more than 1.3 million adults and over 70,000 children currently on therapy. Kenya’s HIV programme has long relied on a mix of foreign aid and domestic contributions to sustain supplies of ARVs, testing kits and viral load monitoring commodities. Historically, international partners such as the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund have been central to this effort.

In 2025, concerns about USAID funding freezes and global aid shifts led to worries that distribution systems might be disrupted, even as waivers were issued to protect HIV funding from certain policy changes abroad.

Despite these pressures, health authorities have repeatedly assured the public that buffer stocks remain adequate in the short term. Government officials, including the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council, have said there are sufficient ARVs and tuberculosis (TB) drugs in stock.

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At a March 2025 flagoff event for essential HIV supplies, the Health Ministry highlighted that ARVs, HIV testing kits and viral load reagents had been distributed through partnerships involving KEMSA and the Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies (MEDS) to maintain continuity of treatment despite aid uncertainties.

While the latest procurement clearance has been welcomed as a step toward ensuring uninterrupted care, procurement processes at KEMSA have in the past drawn scrutiny. Earlier disputes, such as allegations around the awarding of tenders for HIV testing kits, have highlighted the need for transparent, competitive bidding and due diligence to reinforce trust in the system.

Critics have also raised concerns about supply chain inefficiencies and stock management, with occasional reports of expired supplies or delays at county health facilities, underscoring the critical importance of effective warehouse management and distribution logistics.

With PPRA clearance in place, KEMSA is expected to finalise contracts and initiate purchases of ARVs and related HIV commodities under the approved budget, aiming for delivery in a timeframe that avoids gaps in the supply chain. Health sector officials emphasise that ensuring a continuous supply of lifesaving HIV drugs is not just a logistical task but a public health imperative, particularly as Kenya continues efforts to reduce new infections, sustain treatment gains and move closer to epidemic control.