In Focus
Strengthening blood services in Kenya
Transition, partnerships, and a path toward sustainability
Kenya’s blood transfusion system has undergone a period of significant transition following the gradual withdrawal of donor funding that had supported national blood services for many years.
Mombasa county experience
For over a decade, substantial assistance from USAID enabled the expansion of blood banking capacity across the country by funding personnel, logistics, equipment maintenance, reagents, and supplies. While this support contributed greatly to building infrastructure, it also created systemic vulnerabilities. The experience of the Mombasa county offers valuable insights into how countries can navigate such transitions and work toward more sustainable, locally driven models.
Impact of Donor Withdrawal
The downsizing of external funding exposed the degree to which blood services had relied on donor-supported structures. In Mombasa, several immediate challenges emerged. The centre lost more than 30% of the technical staff, which significantly reduced operational capacity. There was a notable decline in funding for fuel and transportation which limited mobile blood drives, while outreach and community mobilisation activities were scaled back. Additionally, some essential technical functions experienced interruptions resulting in a slowed down overall workflow. These effects reflect a broader pattern observed in health systems that depend heavily on external financing: when funding ends, service continuity is threatened, and recovery requires deliberate planning, strong leadership, and local investment.
Rebuilding and Transitioning to a Sustainable Model
In response, the Mombasa County began implementing a recovery framework anchored on four core strategies:
- Inter-governmental collaboration between national and county authorities
- Strengthening private–public partnerships
- Policy adjustments and operational realignment
- Enhanced community participation and donor engagement
Together, these approaches have helped stabilise services while laying a foundation for long-term sustainability.
Inter-Governmental Coordination: The Mombasa Approach
Kenya’s 2010 Constitution devolved health services to county governments; however, blood transfusion remained a national mandate. This governance arrangement resulted in a gap where counties relied on national centres but had limited decision-making authority or operational control. The scaling back of donor support prompted counties to adopt a more active role.
Mombasa and other counties began to strategically support the creation of satellite centres that assist with blood collection, component preparation, distribution, storage, donor education, and community mobilisation. These satellite sites have improved accessibility and reduced the logistical burden on the RBTC by bringing services closer to communities. This has also allowed counties to contribute resources, build capacity, and exercise greater autonomy while oversighting service delivery.
The creation of the County Blood Transfusion Services Coordinator role further strengthened coordination. Serving as a liaison between county leadership and the RBTC, the coordinator mobilises resources and leads awareness campaigns. The coordinator is also charged with establishing the County satellite centre and static collection centres spread across the various Sub-Counties. and facilitates partnerships with NGOs and private institutions. This role has become vital in ensuring continuity, local ownership, and cooperative planning with Non-governmental Organizations, and private institutions playing a great role.
Strengthening Private–Public Partnerships
The involvement of county governments opened opportunities for meaningful partnerships with universities, polytechnics, medical training colleges, alumni groups, industries, and philanthropic organisations. Many of these institutions provide essential forms of support that facilitates blood donation and transfusion services. Key contributions included donor mobilisation in schools and colleges, volunteer personnel during blood drives, and donations of disposable supplies. Transfusing facilities assist by providing reagents and consumables, while NGOs offer incentives to donors. Corporate partners and community groups, such as Lions Clubs and youth-led associations, play active roles in awareness creation. These partnerships have continued to strengthen local donor recruitment and help maintain operational consistency as we chart a way forward on voluntary non-remunerative blood donations.
Growth Prospects and Innovation
The evolving model in Mombasa demonstrates significant potential for future development. Priorities for the coming years include establishing additional static collection centres to stabilise supply, expansion of community outreach through local leadership, and demystifying blood donation through culturally appropriate education and peer donor recruitment. This is especially relevant among young people who remain a key component of Kenya’s demographic profile at 33% of the total population.
Digital innovation is also emerging as a key enabler. The integration of AI and social media platforms can support donor communication, automate reminders, predict demand, and enhance donor retention. Such tools offer cost-effective ways to strengthen engagement and build a consistent donor base. In addition, and towards the drive for 100% voluntary non-remunerative donations, Social behaviour change communication (SBCC) targeted towards the youth must be embraced. Research in blood donor strategies or blood donations must have a component of Social Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) as its foremost component.
Conclusions
Kenya’s experience highlights the importance of building resilient blood services that are not overly dependent on external funding. While donor support played an essential role in establishing the country’s blood transfusion infrastructure, long-term sustainability depends on strong inter-governmental coordination, broad-based partnerships, and active community engagement. The Mombasa County approach demonstrates that with strategic leadership, collaboration, and local investment, blood services can adapt and grow even in the face of funding shifts. Ensuring safe and adequate blood supply remains a national priority. Indeed, continued efforts in donor education, systems innovations, and capacity building are essential modes for securing the future of blood transfusion services in Mombasa, Kenya and similar contexts globally.
