The vaccine plant in Embakasi will start operations early next year, the Ministry of Health has said.
The government has invested between Sh1.5 and Sh2 billion in the Biovax project whose focus is to manufacture Covid-19 vaccines and other vaccines.
Kenya targets the final manufacturing step which is the most critical in the overall vaccine manufacturing process called the fill-and-finish.
Although it simply implies the filling of vaccines into bottles and packaging, it is an important part of biopharmaceutical manufacturing.
It involves complex mechanical engineering, filling and sealing systems and a small mistake can lead to product failure.
Health CAS Dr Rashid Aman on Wednesday said local production is essential for improved access to affordable medical products and reiterated the government's commitment to ensure an adequate domestic supply of pharmaceuticals.
“With imports comprising as much as 70 per cent of drugs consumed in the country, it’s time to promote local production. We only control about 22 per cent and there is a need to pool resources to increase supply,” the CAS said.
Aman spoke during the 8th Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network Biennial Forum in Nairobi.
The meeting brings together delegates from 130 institutions across Africa and beyond to discuss among others Covid-19 and its effect on primary health care with a focus on pharmaceutical services.
The key objectives are to discuss how to create a resilient healthcare system that is prepared to prevent and control future pandemics and for early detection of potential outbreaks.
The meeting will provide a platform for countries to share best practices and strategies for the future in non-communicable diseases, communicable diseases, maternal and child health and strategies that boost the pharmaceutical industry and local production of medicines in LMICs.
Some of the countries represented include Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Chad, DRC, Netherlands and Germany.
“Covid-19 is not the end of crises and pandemics, now we are faced with the threats of Monkeypox and Ebola. Our partnership and synergy with our stakeholders become even more important at this time,” Aman said.
“Vaccine supply affected the mitigation of the disease, especially at the initial stages of the pandemic. This ties up well with the need to have local pharmaceutical industry and production.”
The Kenya BioVax Institute board was inaugurated in December 2021 by Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe.
It was expected to begin vaccine production by April this year.
In January KBI announced qualifications for the individual that would head the day-to-day operation of the institute.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris