Microsoft is pushing artificial intelligence deeper into Kenya’s healthcare retail sector, backing a local startup whose software is changing how small pharmacies manage stock, pricing and cash flow.
Zendawa has rolled out an AI platform built on Microsoft’s Copilot, Power BI and Microsoft Azure. The system helps independent pharmacies replace manual stock books with digital inventory tracking, demand forecasting and real-time sales insights.
The push comes at a time when community pharmacies are often the first point of care in Kenya. Many operate on thin margins. Most still rely on pen and paper. That leads to expired medicines, missed sales and limited access to credit.
Zendawa’s platform targets those gaps. It tracks expiry dates, flags fast-moving drugs and predicts demand. Pharmacists can adjust orders before the stock goes bad. Shops stay open longer because stock taking is automated.
Wilfred Chege, Zendawa’s co-founder and chief executive, said the goal is simple. Cut losses. Lift revenue. Give small pharmacies tools once limited to large chains.
Early results suggest traction. Pharmacists using the system report fewer expired medicines and higher daily sales. Better visibility into stock has reduced the need to shut shops for manual audits.
At Ryche Pharmacy in Nairobi, expired stock used to wipe out thousands of shillings each month, said pharmacist Bramwel Othieno. With AI-driven alerts, he now tracks demand patterns and expiry dates while spending more time with patients.
The software also creates digital transaction records that can double as credit profiles. That allows pharmacies to access financing from lenders without traditional collateral, a longstanding barrier for small healthcare businesses.
Zendawa launched in 2023 and has expanded across Nairobi and other urban centres. It now supports hundreds of pharmacies as they move to digital operations.
For Microsoft, the partnership fits a broader strategy. Push Copilot and cloud tools beyond offices and into frontline businesses. Show clear returns. Anchor adoption in local problems.
National health data shows a large share of outpatient care in Kenya starts at community pharmacies or clinics with dispensaries. That makes them critical nodes in the health system.
By pairing global AI tools with local distribution, Microsoft and Zendawa are betting that productivity gains in small pharmacies can scale. The test will be whether those gains hold as the platform spreads beyond major cities.
