NAKURU, Kenya – The Nakuru County Government has responded to a damning Auditor General’s report revealing that expired HIV and Tuberculosis (TB) drugs worth at least Ksh. 2 million were discovered in storage at Nakuru Level Five Hospital.
The report, which covers the 2023/2024 financial year, has sparked concerns over mismanagement of medical supplies, particularly in a facility that serves patients from at least six neighboring counties.
The revelation has also raised alarm over accountability in the county’s health sector.
Addressing the matter, Nakuru County Health Executive Roselyn Mungai explained that the expired drugs came from two separate donations.
She attributed the expiration of the first batch—donated by a development partner—to a change in user protocols, making them obsolete before they could be used.
The second batch, she said, was a documented donation from the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) and consisted of short-expiry drugs meant for high-volume facilities.
“These were not purchased and were certainly not part of our essential medicines. Once drugs expire, the hospital cannot dispose of them until a stringent audit and disposal process is completed,” Mungai clarified.
While defending the county’s handling of the drugs, she also took issue with the Auditor General’s approach, stating that responses from affected departments should be sought before such reports are finalized.
“We remain committed to upholding the highest standards of accountability in our department of health services,” she added.
