Dr. Kanyenje Gakombe, Chairman, Kenya Health Federation.
By Benard Mulwa
The Kenya Government has secured the deal for Moderna Inc (MRNA.O) to set up a $500 million manufacturing facility in Kenya, its first in Africa, to produce 500 million doses of mRNA vaccines to the continent each year.
The establishment of the Kenya Biovax Ltd. and the formation of a National Multi-Agency Committee of Human Vaccine Production by the Government of Kenya is one of the first steps towards realizing human vaccine manufacturing in Kenya.
While the Moderna Vaccine manufacturing plant will be the first of its kind in Kenya, it is noteworthy that Kenya has been manufacturing animal vaccines through the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute.
Dr. Kanyenje Gakombe said “This experience can be leveraged in setting up and running the proposed COVID19 manufacturing plant”.
With this development, Kenya Healthcare Federation takes the opportunity to urge the Government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Health to fast track the Ratification of the Treaty for the Establishment of African Medicines Agency, AMA, as well as secure hosting of AMA in Kenya.
AMA Treaty entered into force on 5th November 2021 upon deposit of the 15th Instrument of ratification at the African Union Commission.
Kenya is among the countries that have neither signed nor ratified the Treaty and we call upon the Kenyan Government to support this initiative.
AMA is an African Continental Agency that contributes to the improved regulation of medicines, medical products and technologies and to advance the implementation of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan of Africa.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Kanyenje said this will further cement the Business Case for Kenya as a Hub for high quality and affordable health products, health Technologies and healthcare provision attracting investments in Biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, related medical products and infrastructure and therefore catapulting Kenya to a lead position in sustainable supply of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, medical products, medical technologies, healthcare technology and service delivery.
Dr. Kanyenje said “we are confident that these two opportunities; Moderna Manufacturing Facility and AMA, present huge benefits for our country and its citizens, which include, among others; sustainable supply chains, technology transfer, knowledge transfer, skills transfer, manufacture of complex and more advanced medicines and economic empowerment through creation of new quality jobs and export opportunities”.
Research, development, and production of COVID-19 vaccines in Africa is critical to ensure sustainable supply of vaccines to enable a quicker response to other infectious agents in the future.
This approach could become a rewarding investment for companies, governments, and funders since Africa’s demand for vaccines already makes up about a quarter of global vaccine volume and is expected to increase with the region’s estimated 2.5% annual population growth.
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine would ramp up Kenya’s human vaccine resources and contribute to the achievement of UHC, which includes ensuring that all citizens live free of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Dr. Kanyenje said, notably, this initiative will serve as a benchmark and guide for other vaccine and drug manufacturing facilities in Kenya and the region, even as Kenya attracts health investors.
