Kenya is accelerating efforts to locally manufacture vaccines as government officials and scientists warn that rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR), neonatal infections, and hospital-acquired diseases pose an escalating threat to public health and health system sustainability.
The renewed push was announced by Kenneth Mugia, Director General (DG) of the Kenya Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat, who stressed that Kenya must urgently reduce reliance on imported vaccines and strengthen disease prevention to protect national health security.
Speaking at the 16th Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Annual Scientific and Health (KASH) Conference in Nairobi, Mugia recalled how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed Africa’s vulnerability to global vaccine supply disruptions.
“COVID-19 showed us that depending entirely on external suppliers for vaccines is a strategic risk. Health security must include the ability to produce vaccines locally,” stated the DG.
He noted that vaccines remain among the most cost-effective public health tools, saving millions of lives globally and significantly reducing long-term healthcare costs.
Importantly, Mugia disclosed that Kenya plans to scale up domestic vaccine production through the Kenya Biovax Institute, a public-private initiative designed to transition from vaccine packaging and distribution to full manufacturing.
“We have the scientific capacity, research institutions, and intellectual talent to solve many of our health challenges. What we need is stronger coordination between government, academia, industry, and research,” he advised.
Equally, Mugia added that vaccines have saved an estimated 150 million lives worldwide over the past 50 years, including more than 110 million children, emphasizing that preventive healthcare is far more affordable than treating disease.
“If we vaccinate children early, we prevent disease later, reduce hospital admissions, and save billions in healthcare costs,” implored the DG.
Beyond vaccine security, Mugia raised concerns about systemic weaknesses in Kenya’s public health facilities, including overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, and gaps in infection prevention and control.
“It is unacceptable in 2026 for patients to share beds or receive care in overcrowded and poorly ventilated wards. Counties must prioritize clean, safe, and dignified healthcare environments,” he directed.
Further, the DG also warned that drought and water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions could worsen the spread of infectious diseases, as communities turn to unsafe water sources.
“When people lack access to clean water, they are forced to use contaminated sources, increasing the risk of outbreaks. Prevention begins with water, sanitation, and hygiene,” Mugia established.
In the meantime, a central theme at the conference was the growing danger of antimicrobial resistance, particularly in neonatal care units.
Dr. Anne Amulele, a postdoctoral researcher at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kilifi, presented findings from long-term surveillance of newborn infections in Kenyan hospitals.
Her research showed that Klebsiella pneumoniae, a highly drug-resistant bacterium, is a leading cause of serious infections among newborns, especially premature and low-birth-weight infants.
“These babies are extremely vulnerable, and many of the bacteria they encounter are resistant to commonly available antibiotics, leaving doctors with limited treatment options,” Dr. Amulele lamented.
She reported that some neonatal units record 30 to 40 serious infections annually, with mortality rates exceeding 20 percent in severe cases. Several hospitals have experienced prolonged outbreak clusters affecting dozens of newborns.
According to Dr. Amulele, infection transmission is worsened by overcrowded wards, limited diagnostic capacity, and inadequate infection prevention infrastructure.
“Diagnosing these infections requires blood cultures, laboratory equipment, and reagents that many public hospitals cannot consistently afford. This makes early detection and outbreak control more difficult,” she said.
To address the threat, researchers are using genomic surveillance to track bacterial strains and explore the development of a maternal vaccine that could protect newborns through immunity transferred from mothers before birth.
“Newborns cannot mount strong immune responses at birth. Vaccinating mothers could provide passive protection to babies during their most vulnerable period,” stated Dr. Amulele.
In her remarks, Professor Emy Pickering of the University of California, Berkeley, reiterated that improving access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene is critical to preventing infections and lowering reliance on antibiotics.
“Preventing infections through vaccines, clean water, and sanitation is far more effective and affordable than treating them after they occur,” she affirmed.
Similarly, Prof. Pickering noted that environmental contamination including polluted water systems and untreated waste contributes significantly to the spread of resistant bacteria.
“Antibiotic stewardship alone will not solve antimicrobial resistance. Environmental prevention is a crucial part of the solution,” she warned.
Nonetheless, Prof. Pickering highlighted ongoing collaborations with KEMRI to develop low-cost infection prevention systems tailored for resource-limited health facilities, including water chlorination initiatives and improved surface disinfection methods.
In a quick rejoinder, Mugia urged policymakers to shift from reactive treatment toward proactive prevention, saying Kenya must prioritize implementation and accountability rather than policy rhetoric.
“We already have many solutions. What we need now is execution, coordination, and accountability across sectors,” asserted the DG.
He also emphasized the need to maintain public trust in vaccines, regulators, and health institutions amid rising misinformation and vaccine hesitancy.
“Our health institutions must remain credible and transparent. Without public trust, even the best health interventions will fail,” he urged.
Meanwhile, as Kenya advances its Vision 2030 development agenda, experts at the KASH conference said local vaccine manufacturing, stronger infection prevention systems, improved sanitation, and continued innovation will be essential to strengthening national health resilience and protecting vulnerable populations.
“Health is not optional. It is the foundation of productivity, development, and national prosperity,” Mugia reaffirmed.
by Naif Rashid
