Counties Partner to Improve Blood Donation Systems

Several county governments in Kenya are teaming up with national health agencies and non-profits to strengthen the country’s fragile blood donation system. Kiambu County, for example, is integrating its blood bank collection sites into the national DamuKe digital tracking platform, enabling real-time tracking of donated units from donor to recipient. Meanwhile, Meru County, in collaboration with the Kenya Red Cross, has launched a 30-day blood drive to boost blood reserves at the Meru Blood Transfusion Centre.
In Tharaka Nithi County, the health department is working with the Kenya Red Cross Society to run mobile blood donation campaigns across towns like Chuka and Kibugua. These local efforts are part of a national strategy recommended by the Council of Governors, which calls for coordinated blood-transfusion services through regional blood centres and satellite units across counties.
The county-level partnerships are backed by the Kenya Tissue & Transplant Authority (KTTA) under a formal intergovernmental blood-service coordination framework. This framework provides for the appointment of County Blood Transfusion Coordinators to oversee collection, storage, and distribution of safe blood products at the county level.
Health officials say these cross-county collaborations are critical to reducing chronic blood shortages and ensuring equity in access. By digitising the blood supply chain, improving donor mobilization, and strengthening infrastructure, counties hope to build a sustainable system that reliably meets the transfusion needs of hospitals and patients across Kenya.