Kisumu County has signed a concession agreement with US based YUNIGEN Pharmaceuticals to locally manufacture sickle cell medication and expand access to care for thousands living with the disease.
The development marks a major stride in the county’s efforts to combat sickle cell disease (SCD), an under-recognised public health burden that affects 2 in every 100 Kisumu residents, mostly children.
Under the agreement, Kisumu and YUNIGEN will jointly roll out routine newborn screening in all public health facilities, ensure a steady supply of affordable, paediatric-friendly hydroxyurea, build health worker capacity, and establish a digital registry for effective tracking and treatment.
YUNIGEN is expected to acquire land and build a modern packaging plant, which will be fast-tracked as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) with support from the county government.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o said through the partnership, YUNIGEN will commence packaging of hydroxyurea in Kisumu, a major milestone in enhancing access to the lifesaving drug for sicklers.
This, he said, will not only ensure a steady supply but also give impetus to the fight against the genetic blood disorder by ensuring patients get high-quality medication.
He added that the move will further anchor job creation, skills development, technology transfer, and broader pharmaceutical manufacturing in Kisumu.
Nyong’o described the collaboration as a bold commitment to transform health outcomes, stimulate pharmaceutical manufacturing, and restore dignity to families affected by the genetic blood disorder.
“This is not just about documents. It’s about delivering real hope to our children and families who have endured this silent suffering for far too long,” said Nyong’o.
Nyong’o noted that the partnership directly responds to the economic, emotional, and social toll of sickle cell on caregivers and communities, especially mothers who lose over a month each year tending to sick children in hospitals.
The deal, he said, builds on recent investments by the county, including the reopening of Victoria Annex Hospital as a specialized Sickle Cell and Surgical Hub.
The facility, he added, currently offers comprehensive care services such as cytapheresis, psychosocial support, and nutritional counselling, with future plans for bone marrow transplants and management of other blood disorders like leukaemia.
Photos By Chris Mahandara.
“We envision Kisumu as a continental Centre of Excellence in haematology and oncology—driven by care, research, training, and innovation,” said Nyong’o.
Unigen Kenya Chief Medical Officer Dr. Charles Odhiambo said the packaging plant was the first phase for the project, with plans underway to start local manufacturing of hydroxyurea in Kisumu.
“We are going to manufacture the drugs in the US and ship them in bulk to Kisumu. This will not only create employment but also bring down the cost of drugs,” he said.
Kisumu, he said, was the first hub for the giant pharmaceutical in Africa and will act as a hub serving the other African countries where the disease prevalence is high.
Yunigen President Wycliffe Omwancha lauded the partnership, saying it will go a long way in spurring innovations in the management of SCD.
As part of the interventions to respond to the disease, clinical research, he said, will be carried out in Kisumu to assess the response of combining two drugs.
The study, he said, will involve combining hydroxyurea and L-hutamine, which has been approved in the United States to fight the disease.
“We are looking at attacking the disease from two mechanisms of action to achieve better outcomes and we are very excited about this study,” he said.
By Chris Mahandara
