How patients are left to suffer amid persistent blood shortages

Joseph Wanyonyi recalls September 9 last year, when he took his wife, Phylis Wanjiru, to a private hospital for delivery.

The 32-year-old was wheeled into theatre for a caesarean section, but the joy was short-lived.

Shortly after delivery, she developed severe internal bleeding (post-partum haemorrhage, PPH), a complication of the uterus.

Unfortunately, the hospital had no blood in stock, and she bled for about seven hours without a transfusion.

She was later referred to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) for urgent care.

At KNH, doctors immediately transfused her with four pints of blood and rushed her back to theatre for re-exploration — a second surgery to stop the bleeding.

She also received an additional pint of blood during surgery.

Although the procedure was successful, doctors noted that she was developing heart failure due to critically low blood levels.

She was moved to the Intensive Care Unit as the medical team mobilised more blood for transfusion.

Wanyonyi rushed to social media to mobilise donors.

However, as friends responded to his call, he received heartbreaking news — his wife had died. She had lacked blood.

His case is not isolated; hundreds of patients lose their lives due to blood shortages in the country.

Despite this, many Kenyans remain reluctant to donate the life-saving commodity

Kenya continues to face a persistent blood shortage that puts thousands of patients at risk each year.

Nairobi, the country’s busiest health hub, collects only 60 per cent of its annual target.

The country heavily relies on schools, which contribute about 70 per cent of Nairobi’s blood supply. Nairobi County is expected to collect 50,000 pints annually but managed only 38,000 pints in 2024/25, according to Nairobi County Blood Transfusion Coordinator Denis Oduor.

“Blood should be waiting for the patient, not the patient waiting for blood,” said Oduor, who also leads blood mobilisation efforts aimed at ensuring no one dies due to lack of blood.

Data shows that maternity and newborn cases consume the highest share of blood supplies, with nearly half of transfusions used in maternity wards, theatres, and paediatric emergencies. Previously, blood services were heavily donor-funded.

However, since donors withdrew support, counties are not allocating sufficient budgets for blood collection, screening, distribution, and logistics, as directed by gazette notice.

“You cannot buy blood in a pharmacy, chemist, or procure it through the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency. It must be donated.

‘‘Kenyans must normalise blood donation so that when emergencies happen, patients get blood instantly, without delay,” said Oduor.