Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika has refuted claims that Nakuru Level Five Hospital distributed expired HIV/AIDS drugs to patients.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, March 5, Kihika clarified that the drugs in question had expired before 2022 and were no longer in use due to changes in treatment protocols.
She explained that despite their expiry, the medications could not be disposed of immediately as they were awaiting an audit by the Global Fund, an international organization that finances health programs.
Supporting the governor’s remarks, Nakuru County’s Head of Health Services, Roselyn Mungai, attributed the situation to protocol changes that led to the discontinuation of some program medicines donated by development partners.
Mungai further revealed that another batch of expired drugs had been supplied by the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) with a short shelf life, intended for high-volume facilities. However, she clarified that these medicines were not part of the essential drugs distributed to Nakuru Level Five Hospital and were never administered to patients.
“Once drugs expire, the hospital cannot dispose of them until a comprehensive audit and disposal process is completed,” Mungai stated.
She also urged that concerns related to medical supplies be addressed through official channels, assuring the public of the county’s commitment to accountability and proper health service management.
The clarification from county officials comes amid reports that an audit conducted during the 2023/2024 financial year flagged expired drugs worth Ksh1.8 million stored at Nakuru Level Five Hospital.
Auditor General Nancy Gathungu, in her findings, criticized the facility for weak internal controls and inadequate structures in drug procurement. She warned that failure to dispose of expired medicines posed a potential health risk.
While the county administration maintains that no expired drugs were given to patients, the matter has sparked public concern, with calls for strengthened oversight in the health sector.
