Inventory Management Practices at Mbagathi County Referral Hospital, Kenya: Staff Perceptions and Service Delivery Implications

Abstract

Background: Continuous availability of medicines, equipment and other supplies depends on stock control, procurement, forecasting and supplier coordination. Objective: To describe staff perceptions of inventory management practices at Mbagathi County Referral Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya, as the third objective of a broader organizational-resources study. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey targeted 273 hospital employees. A stratified sample of 162 was planned, and 120 completed questionnaires were returned (74.1%). Five inventory management statements were summarized with means and standard deviations on a five-point agreement scale. Results: Effective stock control received the highest mean (M = 4.087, SD = 1.018). Respondents also rated timely procurement (M = 4.001, SD = 0.992) and infrequent stock-outs (M = 3.993, SD = 1.100) positively. Forecasting to prevent shortages and surplus stock (M = 3.856, SD = 0.921) and supplier coordination (M = 3.840, SD = 1.022) were rated lower. Conclusion: Staff generally reported favorable inventory practices, while forecasting and supplier coordination warrant management attention. These perceptions do not establish actual commodity availability or a measured association with operational performance.

Authors and affiliations

• Chepkirui Cheruiyot Monica; Dr. Daniel A. Otwori · Corresponding author

  Chepkirui Cheruiyot Monica: School of Management and Leadership, Management University of Africa, Nairobi, Kenya; Dr. Daniel A. Otwori: Management University of Africa, Nairobi, Kenya

  Kenya

Institution: Chepkirui Cheruiyot Monica: School of Management and Leadership, Management University of Africa, Nairobi, Kenya; Dr. Daniel A. Otwori: Management University of Africa, Nairobi, Kenya

Corresponding author: Chepkirui Cheruiyot Monica | monica.chepkirui@yahoo.com

Publication details

Journal

Nexus International Journal of Applied Science, Medicine and Social Sciences

Publication date

August 2026

Volume

1

Issue

2

Issue title

Volume 1, Issue 2

Pages

470-471

Article type

Original Research

Discipline

Hospital Operations and Supply Chain Management

Publisher

Nexus Academic Press

e-ISSN

3144-2196

Published paper ID

NIJAMSS-V1S2-AUG2026-028

Registration ID

NIJAMSS-V1S2-AUG2026-028

Paper number

028

Country

Kenya

Peer review

Peer Reviewed

Access

Open Access

Article URL: https://www.nijamss.org/articles/nijamss-v1s2-aug2026-028/

Full-text PDF: https://www.nijamss.org/articles/nijamss-v1s2-aug2026-028/full-text.pdf

References

References have not been supplied as separate metadata. Please consult the full-text PDF for the article's reference list.

Citation

Chepkirui Cheruiyot Monica; Dr. Daniel A. Otwori. Inventory Management Practices at Mbagathi County Referral Hospital, Kenya: Staff Perceptions and Service Delivery Implications. Nexus International Journal of Applied Science, Medicine and Social Sciences, Vol. 1, Issue 2, August 2026.