Kenya builds capacity to produce its own vaccines

Nairobi-According to the World Health Organization, Africa produces less than 1% of the vaccines it consumes, yet it carries a disproportionate share of the world's infectious disease burden. Efforts to shift this reality are now under way in Kenya.

Kenya has officially joined a global programme that will enable the country to manufacture its own vaccines locally, reducing its reliance on health products imported from abroad. The launch of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) mRNA Technology Transfer Project took place in Nairobi and was presided over by Dr. Ouma Oluga, Principal Secretary for Medical Services at the Ministry of Health.

For many years, countries across Africa have depended on vaccines produced outside the continent. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this dependency had serious consequences; when global demand surged, lower-income countries were consistently last to receive vaccines, with some waiting years while wealthier nations secured multiple rounds of supply. The WHO-MPP mRNA Technology Transfer Programme was established in direct response to that experience, by teaching selected countries in Africa and other low- and middle-income regions how to produce messenger RNA (mRNA)-based vaccines themselves, using the same technology platform that proved effective during the pandemic.

Kenya is one of six African countries selected to participate in the programme, which is supported by a South African manufacturing consortium and now spans 15 partner institutions across six WHO regions worldwide. Through the arrangement, the Kenya BioVax Institute will receive end-to-end training and technical support, covering the full process from research and development through to large-scale vaccine production. Infrastructure at the Institute's Embakasi facility is being upgraded to support this work, and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) will contribute its scientific expertise as a key research partner.

"When a country can produce its own vaccines, it can protect its own people without depending on external supply chains that may not always be reliable or accessible," said Dr. Edwin Kojo Ogara, WHO Kenya technical lead for essential drugs and medicines. "Kenya's entry into this programme is an important step toward building that capacity, and toward ensuring that life-saving health products reach the people who need them, when they need them. WHO is committed to supporting Kenya and its partners as they work to strengthen health sovereignty and contribute to a more resilient region."

Dr. Ouma Oluga, Principal Secretary for Medical Services noted, "the COVID-19 pandemic exposed our vulnerabilities, highlighting the necessity for Africa to develop its own manufacturing. Investing in local manufacturing not only strengthens our health systems but also creates jobs and stimulates economic growth," he said.

The mRNA platform is not limited to a single disease. Kenya's scientists have been encouraged to apply the technology to diseases that continue to affect the region, including malaria, tuberculosis, and outbreak-prone infections such as Rift Valley fever. Should a health emergency arise, the same platform can be rapidly redirected to produce a response, shortening the time it takes for effective countermeasures to reach affected populations.

The Pharmacy and Poisons Board is working alongside programme partners to ensure that vaccines produced locally meet the regulatory standards required to reach patients safely. With domestic production capacity now being built, Kenya is positioned to contribute to a more self-sufficient regional health system across East Africa and on the African Continent.