Building on the success of its existing engagement to improve access to HIV care, Homa Bay County in Kenya has taken a bold step to strengthen its entire health system by investing in procuring, storing and delivering critical medical commodities through Zipline, the world’s largest autonomous logistics system.
This move marks a significant shift in the county’s approach to last-mile healthcare delivery, enabling timely access to essential medicines that had long been out of reach for many communities. With Zipline, even remote and hard-to-reach areas can receive consistent, life-saving medical supplies, transforming access and strengthening the health system.
Zipline initially partnered with Homa Bay County, with support from the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF), to ensure discreet and reliable access to HIV medication and overcome stigma, logistical and cost challenges by delivering prevention and sexual and reproductive health products and counselling directly to young people in communities. Despite recent improvements, Homa Bay County remains a high-burden area for HIV in Kenya, with more than 100,000 residents living with HIV. This HIV prevalence makes the county an ideal location for focused interventions.
Between September 2023 and March 2025, 33,897 adolescents and young people (AYP) were reached with health education and Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials at community-based events. Meanwhile, 15,876 engaged in counselling or testing to know their HIV status. Thousands of AYPs were also reached via other joint interventions by EJAF and Zipline.
The new partnership will now include a broader range of life-saving supplies, such as:
- Blood products are used to manage postpartum haemorrhage, a leading cause of maternal deaths.
- Vaccines, including malaria and HPV vaccines, are to boost immunization rates and reduce missed vaccination opportunities.
- Essential medicines like oxytocin, used to treat maternal bleeding and prevent fatal childbirth complications.
- Anti-snake venom and anti-rabies treatments, vital for protecting farmers and rural populations from potentially lethal bite injuries.
- Emergency treatments including insulin injections for diabetic patients and labetalol for hypertensive crises.
Recent disruptions to Kenya’s healthcare supply chains – triggered by the ongoing suspension of USAID-funded projects – have exposed the system’s fragility. The pause has severely impacted the distribution of critical medicines, leaving life-saving drugs stranded in warehouses and out of reach for the people who need them. Traditional logistics systems also struggle to ensure reliable last-mile delivery, particularly in adverse weather conditions. Combined with the absence of centralised storage, these challenges hamper consistent access to medicines, leading to wastage and inequitable distribution.
With Zipline’s centralised inventory management and autonomous delivery technology, healthcare facilities across Homa Bay County can confidently manage their stock and respond to emergencies. This capability is expected to drive improved health outcomes, as observed in other regions where Zipline currently operates.
Homa Bay County Governor, Gladys Wanga, said, “This initiative will facilitate the distribution of essential medications and blood products to remote healthcare facilities across the county. The initial phase of this project aims to reach 84 designated health facilities, ensuring that emergency medicines and supplies can be delivered swiftly, even to locations that are difficult to access due to geographical challenges or adverse weather conditions”.
Charles Kariuki, Sales Director at Zipline Kenya, said, “This expansion reflects a bold shift from reactive delivery to a resilient, county-wide system. By integrating Zipline into their health infrastructure, Homa Bay County is not only improving last-mile delivery—they’re enabling consistent access to essential medicines, reducing stockouts, and strengthening facility-level response. This drives better health outcomes and economic value: fewer emergency referrals, less wastage, and more efficient use of limited public resources. It’s a smarter, more sustainable model for health system resilience.”
