The Kenyan government has revealed plans to begin trials of the country’s first locally manufactured vaccines within the next two years.

This breakthrough is expected to provide more than three million children with access to affordable and essential immunizations, reducing reliance on imported vaccines and improving public health outcomes.

The Kenya BioVax Institute, a state-backed initiative supported by Sh8 billion from the World Bank, will launch trials by 2027 for three vaccines targeting pneumonia and typhoid.

The project aims to make Kenya self-sufficient in vaccine production and reduce vulnerability to global supply chain interruptions.

“Vaccine manufacturing is not like any other form of manufacturing. It requires serious planning, advanced technology, and critical transfers. I am happy to report that groundwork has been extensively done, and with certainty, we can say that in the next 24 months we will roll out our first BioVax vaccine,” said BioVax CEO Dr. Charles Githinji during a stakeholder forum held in Naivasha.

Githinji highlighted that Kenya currently depends on donor funding for more than 80 percent of its annual vaccine expenses, which amount to Sh15 billion.

This dependency is expected to decrease as Kenya’s middle-income status reduces support from GAVI, the global vaccine alliance.

The BioVax Institute is assembling essential manufacturing components at its Embakasi facility, ensuring compliance with global standards. Commercial vaccine production is planned to begin once trials are complete.

The BioVax project came as a response to the difficulties Kenya faced in accessing vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Githinji also revealed plans to list the institute on the Nairobi Securities Exchange.

This move will help raise capital and tap into Africa’s growing vaccine market, which the Africa CDC projects will reach between USD 2.4 billion and USD 5.6 billion by 2030.

Emmanuel Nzai, chairperson of the Vision 2030 Board, praised the development, saying that local vaccine production will help advance Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage agenda.

He added that this will lower healthcare costs and improve vaccine access for vulnerable groups.

Nzaifurther noted that Kenya’s rise as a vaccine manufacturing hub would boost health security across the continent.

Currently, Africa relies on imports for up to 98 percent of its vaccine needs, making local production a vital step toward greater independence.

According to BioVax’s 2023–2027 strategic plan, the institute will focus on vaccines for outbreak response, childhood immunization, and therapeutic use, positioning Kenya as a key player in Africa’s pharmaceutical industry.