Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has announced plans to roll out Kenya's first locally manufactured vaccine by 2027. This milestone follows the completion of the first phase of the manufacturing facility at the Kenya BioVax Institute. The initiative supports the country's universal health coverage goals and aims to reduce dependence on imported vaccines.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced this development on Monday, January 12, 2026, following a strategic engagement meeting with the Board and senior management of the Kenya BioVax Institute. During the session, he reviewed progress on the vaccine manufacturing program, a key pillar of Kenya's universal health coverage (UHC) agenda aimed at improving access to affordable and reliable vaccines.
In a statement on his social media accounts, Duale said: "The visit reviewed key milestones, including progress towards Kenya's first locally manufactured vaccine trial batch, scheduled for release by the end of 2026."
He confirmed that the first phase of the manufacturing facility has been completed, with the government fully financing this initial stage. The project has now entered its second phase, focusing on systems integration and the installation of equipment, including fill and finish technology essential for vaccine production.
The Kenya BioVax Institute was established in 2021 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, marking Kenya's transition from vaccine consumer to manufacturer. Additionally, Kenya has achieved World Health Organisation (WHO) Maturity Level 3, a regulatory milestone supported by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board and the National Quality Control Laboratory.
This status enables local pharmaceutical manufacturing and boosts global confidence in Kenya's regulatory systems, positioning the country as a potential regional hub for vaccine and pharmaceutical production. During an interactive session with institute staff, Duale emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in public service to deliver people-centered healthcare.
Once fully operational, the institute is expected to reduce Kenya's reliance on imported vaccines, enhance health security, and drive economic growth in alignment with the government's Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). Strategic partnerships, particularly with the World Bank under the Regional Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience (HEPRRP) program, have bolstered these gains by strengthening healthcare systems, expanding pharmaceutical capacity, and improving national emergency preparedness.
