Zipline, an instant delivery service provider, will soon start delivering drugs using drones in counties within the Lake Region Economic Bloc.
The service provider announced the completion of its drone takeoff point in Chemelili, Mugoroni, by end month.
County manager Winfred Njeri said the Chemelil site will serve as their headquarters, to launch their services in the region and other counties not falling within the Bloc.
Lake Region Economic Bloc is comprised of 14 counties namely Bomet, Bungoma, Busia, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kericho, Kisumu, Kisii, Migori, Nyamira, Nandi, Siaya, Trans Nzoia and Vihiga
“We have started test flights. From Chemelil we will fly to Kakamega, Kisii, and Siaya, amongst others,” Njeri said on Wednesday.
She said in the future, they will set up other takeoff points to serve more counties.
Njeri said there are other counties with poor road networks, while others are prone to banditry attacks and they will reach them using drones.
She said distributing drugs, some for life-threatening illnesses and immunisations while using drones is the most efficient and effective way.
Njeri said in areas where the technology has been used, the cost of delivery of medical supplies was reduced by 70 per cent.
Speaking to the press in Kisumu during a media roundtable, Njeri said they will roll out their services when they complete certain regulations.
She said already, they have trained their staff and are ready to start work, saying the only thing that was remaining was a warehouse where the drugs will be stored.
Njeri said the company has received several licenses to regulate its services from the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority.
“We are only waiting for KCCA to give us the routes that our drones will pass through, during delivery,” she said.
In February, Zipline signed an agreement with LREB to deliver vaccines, blood products and other medical commodities to several health facilities.
Kisumu hub will now serve as the base of operations for Zipline.
Njeri said they will offer a solidly transformational logistics medical delivery in Western Kenya, thereby, putting Kenya at the forefront of health excellence.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
