As part of the 2026 World Blood Donor Day commemorations in Garissa County, the Cabinet Secretary for Health commissioned the Northern Regional Blood Transfusion Centre at Garissa County Referral Hospital and launched the national Guidelines for the Appropriate Use of Blood, Blood Components and Blood Products.
The new facility marks a major milestone in strengthening access to safe blood and blood products across North Eastern Kenya. Serving Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Tana River, and parts of Isiolo and Kitui counties, the Centre will bring critical blood transfusion services closer to communities and reduce longstanding challenges associated with accessing screening and processing services.
For many years, blood collected in the region had to be transported to Nairobi for testing, often delaying emergency interventions and patient care. The operationalisation of the Centre will significantly reduce turnaround times, strengthen emergency response, improve patient outcomes and enhance healthcare delivery across the region.
Equipped with an advanced Abbott Alinity analyser for screening transfusion-transmissible infections, the facility will support the testing of more than 40,000 blood units annually. It also has the capacity to store over 600 units of blood, strengthening regional preparedness and ensuring a more reliable supply for health facilities and emergency situations.
The Cabinet Secretary commended development partners for their support in delivering the project. Through a joint investment of nearly KSh100 million, the Ministry of Health and its partners financed the construction, renovation, equipping and operationalisation of the Centre, demonstrating a shared commitment to strengthening Kenya’s blood transfusion services and expanding equitable access to quality healthcare.
He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening the national blood transfusion network through continued investment in Regional Blood Transfusion Centres and satellite blood banks to ensure that every Kenyan can access lifesaving blood services when needed.
The Cabinet Secretary also flagged off seven modern obstetric theatre beds donated through the support of the World Health Organization (WHO). The beds form part of a consignment of 108 units being distributed to 15 counties to strengthen emergency obstetric care and improve maternal and newborn health outcomes.
The event was attended by the Director of Kenya Blood Transfusion and Transplant Services, Dr. Martin Sirengo; Director of Family Health, Dr. Bashir Issak; Secretary Administration at the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, Adan Harakhe; and was hosted by Garissa County Governor Nathif Jama alongside other national and county leaders.