Strengthening Health Supply Chains in Kakamega: Key Outcomes from the Quarterly Commodity Security Technical Working Group

Ensuring the availability of essential health products and technologies (HPTs) is critical to delivering quality healthcare services. On 20 May 2026, Kakamega County took a significant step forward in strengthening its health supply chain systems through the Quarterly Commodity Security Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting, supported by CIPS-HPA.

This collaborative forum brought together key stakeholders from county and sub-county health sectors to review performance, address challenges and identify practical solutions to enhance supply chain efficiency.

Purpose of the Meeting

The primary objective of the session was to review and strengthen the management of Health Products and Technologies (HPTs) across Kakamega County. The meeting served as a platform for:

• Evaluating current stock status
• Assessing supply chain performance
• Identifying bottlenecks at both county and sub-county levels
• Developing actionable strategies for improvement

Key Areas of Focus

Discussions were guided by data and performance insights, with emphasis on:

• Reporting rates across health facilities
• Expiry monitoring to reduce wastage
• Accountability mechanisms in commodity management
• Storage practices to maintain product quality
• HPT dashboard assessments for real-time decision-making

This data-driven approach enabled stakeholders to pinpoint gaps and prioritize interventions where they are most needed.

Key Outcomes and Resolutions

The Technical Working Group meeting resulted in several important outcomes that will directly improve supply chain effectiveness:

1. Identification of Supply Chain Gaps

Participants conducted a comprehensive review of existing challenges affecting commodity management at all levels.

• Clear action plans were developed to address identified gaps.
• Responsibilities were assigned to ensure timely implementation.

2. Redistribution of Overstocked Commodities

To improve efficiency and reduce wastage:

• Facilities with excess stock committed to redistributing HPTs to understocked facilities.
• This will help ensure equitable access to essential health products across the county.

3. Strengthening Stakeholder Coordination

A shared commitment emerged to improve collaboration among all actors in the supply chain:

• Enhanced communication and coordination mechanisms
• Stronger accountability frameworks
• Unified efforts to improve overall system performance

Impact and Way Forward

The meeting underscored Kakamega County’s dedication to building a resilient, efficient and accountable health supply chain system. By leveraging collaboration and real-time data, the county is better positioned to:

• Ensure continuous availability of essential health commodities
• Minimize losses through expiry and mismanagement
• Strengthen health system responsiveness

Conclusion

The Quarterly Commodity Security Technical Working Group meeting represents more than just a routine review—it is a critical driver of transformation in Kakamega’s healthcare system. Through strategic partnerships, data-informed decisions and collective accountability, the county continues to make meaningful progress toward ensuring that communities have uninterrupted access to life-saving health products and technologies.