Homa Bay County expands partnership with Zipline to improve access to life-saving medicines for its population
30 April 2025
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 the procurement, storage and delivery of 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.
The new partnership will now include a broader range of life-saving supplies, such as:
Blood products to manage postpartum hemorrhaging, a leading cause of maternal deaths.
Vaccines, including malaria and HPV vaccines, 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 centralized inventory management and autonomous delivery technology, healthcare facilities across Homa Bay County can confidently manage its 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.”
About Zipline
Zipline was founded to create the first logistics system that serves all humans equally. The company designs, manufactures, and operates the world’s largest autonomous logistics system, which is used daily by businesses, governments, and consumers. Zipline’s fully electric and autonomous drones reduce delivery emissions by up to 97% compared to gas-powered vehicles. To date, Zipline has flown more than 100 million autonomous kilometres and delivered millions of items, including over 20 million vaccine doses.
For more information, please visit www.flyzipline.com.