From North Eastern to national excellence: Dr Waqo Dulacha Ejersa’s journey in transforming Kenya’s public health
The Mt Kenya Times 
Dr Waqo Dulacha Ejersa
How a boy from Marsabit rose through 25 years of public service to lead the agency supplying medicines to millions of Kenyans
By John Kariuki
For decades, Kenya’s North Eastern region has been discussed through the lens of historical marginalisation, infrastructural deficits, and harsh climatic conditions. Yet beneath those narratives lies a region that has consistently produced exceptional leaders and distinguished professionals who have made remarkable contributions to national development.
Few careers illustrate this more compellingly than that of Waqo Dulacha Ejersa, the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), whose more than 25 years in Kenya’s public health sector represent a sustained record of service, policy leadership, and institutional stewardship.
Ejersa’s rise to the helm of KEMSA was not a matter of chance. A medical doctor by training, he earned his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Nairobi before completing a Master of Public Health at the University of Melbourne. He has since pursued postgraduate studies in strategic planning, reflecting a career-long commitment to professional development.
His ascent through the Ministry of Health was marked by progressively senior and demanding roles. He served as Head of the National Malaria Control Programme, one of the country’s most operationally critical public health mandates. During that tenure, he was involved in developing national malaria control strategies, mobilising financial resources, and expanding interventions aimed at reducing infections across the country — work that earned recognition both nationally and internationally.
He subsequently headed the Department of Non-Communicable Diseases Programmes, where he chaired the Interagency Coordinating Committee and oversaw policy development and strategic planning for conditions including diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. The role demanded coordination across multiple government agencies and stakeholder bodies, a challenge that sharpened his capacity for managing complex national programmes.
Ejersa also led Kenya’s National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Lung Disease Programme within the Ministry of Health, coordinating national efforts to reduce the burden of tuberculosis and other respiratory illnesses in close collaboration with county governments, development partners, and international organisations. Earlier in his career, he served as Provincial Director of Health in the Rift Valley, grounding his understanding of healthcare delivery at the implementation level.
That breadth of experience — spanning preventive, promotive, and curative health systems — positioned him to take on leadership of KEMSA, the authority responsible for procuring, warehousing, and distributing essential medicines and medical commodities throughout Kenya.
Since assuming the role of CEO, Ejersa has emphasised accountability, operational efficiency, and stronger partnerships with county governments. His public engagements have consistently focused on strengthening the medical supply chain and improving KEMSA’s responsiveness to the needs of healthcare facilities nationwide. Under his leadership, the authority has continued to play a central role in Kenya’s preparedness for public health emergencies, managing strategic medical commodities essential during disease outbreaks.
His contributions to public health have been recognised through the conferment of the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) in acknowledgement of his service to the nation.
Beyond the accolades, Ejersa’s career offers a more enduring lesson. For young people from Marsabit and the wider North Eastern region, his journey is a clear signal that excellence is not defined by geography. Talent, education, and perseverance can open doors to national leadership regardless of where one begins.
His story also challenges outdated perceptions of the region. North Eastern Kenya has produced accomplished professionals across medicine, engineering, academia, business, public administration, and politics. Ejersa stands among those whose work demonstrates that the region possesses the intellectual capital to shape Kenya’s future.
As KEMSA continues supporting Kenya’s healthcare system, his experience in public health policy, programme management, and institutional leadership provides a firm foundation for steering the authority in its mandate of ensuring reliable access to quality medical commodities for all Kenyans.
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