DR. WAQO EJERSA: STEERING KEMSA TOWARDS A STRONGER PERFORMANCE AND RELIABLE HEALTH SUPPLY CHAIN

Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) CEO Dr. Waqo Ejersa continues to champion a culture of accountability, performance and continuous improvement as the Authority strengthens its role in supporting the country’s healthcare system.

Today, Dr. Waqo officially opened the FY 2025/26 Performance Review Workshop, bringing together KEMSA teams to assess performance against set targets, reflect on achievements and challenges, identify gaps and chart the way forward for improved service delivery.

The workshop provided an important opportunity for teams to take stock of the past financial year while identifying practical interventions that can strengthen KEMSA’s performance going forward.

In his address, Dr. Waqo emphasised that performance review should not be reduced to numbers and statistics.

He challenged teams to go beyond asking whether targets were achieved and instead examine what worked, what did not work, why it happened and what needs to be done differently.

The approach reflects a leadership philosophy anchored on learning, accountability and continuous improvement.

Dr. Waqo reminded staff that “what gets measured gets managed,” urging teams to use performance data not merely for reporting purposes but as a tool for identifying root causes, sustaining successes and correcting weaknesses.

Such an approach is particularly important for an institution whose performance has a direct bearing on the availability of essential health products and technologies across the country.

The CEO also commended the Logistics and Commercial Directorate for its strong performance during FY 2025/26, recognising the team’s contribution to the Authority’s overall objectives.

The recognition underscores the importance of teamwork in delivering KEMSA’s mandate. From procurement and warehousing to logistics and distribution, every link in the health-products supply chain matters when it comes to ensuring that health facilities are adequately supplied.

As Kenya continues advancing the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda, the role of KEMSA becomes increasingly critical.

A healthcare system cannot effectively serve citizens when essential medicines, medical supplies and health technologies are unavailable at the point of care.

Dr. Waqo reiterated KEMSA’s responsibility to ensure the reliable availability of health products and technologies to health facilities across the country.

This places a premium on efficiency, accountability, accurate forecasting, effective procurement, proper inventory management and dependable distribution systems.

His emphasis on performance measurement therefore comes at a critical moment for Kenya’s health sector.

The performance review workshop provides an opportunity for KEMSA to strengthen internal systems while ensuring that every directorate understands its contribution to the broader national health agenda.

Under Dr. Waqo’s leadership, the message is increasingly clear: performance must translate into service delivery.

Targets should not simply be achieved on paper; they must ultimately contribute to better outcomes for healthcare workers, health facilities and, most importantly, patients.

The emphasis on identifying root causes also demonstrates a shift from simply recording failures to understanding and addressing the underlying challenges that cause them.

Equally important is the call to sustain what works.

Strong performance in one area provides lessons that can be replicated elsewhere, while gaps offer opportunities for innovation and improvement.

For KEMSA, this culture of reflection and continuous improvement is essential to building a more resilient health-products supply chain.

Dr. Waqo’s leadership at the workshop therefore went beyond opening a routine institutional meeting. It was a call for every member of the KEMSA team to take ownership of performance and understand the connection between their daily responsibilities and the health of millions of Kenyans.

As the Authority looks ahead, the objective is clear: measure performance, understand the gaps, improve the systems and deliver better.

And with Kenya pursuing Universal Health Coverage, a stronger and more responsive KEMSA will remain an indispensable pillar in ensuring that health facilities across the country have the products and technologies they need to serve Kenyans.

For Dr. Waqo Ejersa, performance is not merely a scorecard — it is a commitment to better service, greater accountability and a healthier Kenya.