Gov’t Sets Aside Sh2.5 Billion For Vaccine Manufacturing Plant

KILIFI,Kenya, Dec, 21 – Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi kagwe has announced that the government will spend up to Sh2.5 billion to set up the country’s first vaccine manufacturing plant.

The Kenya Biovax plant will be established at the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) facility domiciled at Embakasi in Nairobi county.

While addressing the Kenya Editors Guild amongst other stakeholders during a retreat in Malindi, Kilifi county, Kagwe said that the money allocated for the ambitious project will only be used to install the required equipment and not for the purpose of constructing a new building that will host the facility.

“We have taken three godowns where the equipment is going to be put. We are in the process of renovating those godowns, changing the place, and securing the area. We are not going to put up new buildings, for now. We will use what we have so that the money we have Sh2.5 billion will be used for installation of the equipment alone,” said Kagwe.

Besides the manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines the plant will also manufacture other vaccines.

“We are not only talking about COVID-19 vaccines, but we are also talking about other vaccines; Polio vaccines, Malaria vaccines and all the vaccines that we can make in the country,” he said further insisting that, “Vaccine manufacturing is not a money-spinner itself so it is necessary for the government to do this. If you look at other countries such as South Africa, India with the serum institute, those organisations are essentially government-backed because it’s the model that works,”

The government has in the past reiterated its plans to set up such a facility saying that the manufacture of pharmaceuticals in the country was essential and critical to the country’s progress.

Kagwe insisted that the government will ensure that public resources are well utilised during the rollout of the project.

Kenya imports 70 per cent of its medical products including vaccines.