• The ministry has said talks between two potentials partners in the fill-and-finish plant are almost completed.
• “It is safe to say that the basic legal and industrial requirements for local fill-and-finish manufacturing of vaccines have been largely achieved,” the CS said.
Image: UNICEF
The government seeks a CEO for the state-owned vaccine plant in Embakasi.
Construction of the facility has begun as the country seeks to join the human vaccine manufacturing business before President Uhuru Kenyatta leaves office.
On Wednesday, the board of the Kenya BioVax Institute, the state-owned company that will lead vaccine development, said it is seeking someone with strong business skills and science communication abilities.
The board is headed by engineer Mugo Kibati while other directors include Sachen Chandaria, Shamim Chanzu, Dennis Rangi, Sam Kariuki, John Kiiru and an alternate to the Treasury CS.
“The ideal candidate must have at least 12 years of demonstrable leadership experience in medicine, pharmaceutical production, manufacturing and marketing and innovation,” the board said in an advertisement.
He or she must also hold a masters or PhD in a healthcare related field and recognised business or project management qualification.
Kenya targets the final manufacturing step, which is arguably the most critical in the overall vaccine manufacturing process, called 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 production failure.
Currently, Kenya imports 70 per cent of her pharmaceutical requirements, including vaccines and other biological products.
Last month, the KBI board held a meeting at the Kemri headquarters where it said it had already presented to the Health CS, the concept note and budget line as well as approved the legal framework to govern the human vaccine production.
This was confirmed by CS Mutahi Kagwe.
“It is safe to say that the basic legal and industrial requirements for local fill-and-finish manufacturing of vaccines have been largely achieved.
"The development of wholly local vaccine production process has been initiated with support of Kemri who will remain the main partner in capacity building,” the CS said in Machakos on December 14 during the inauguration of the KBI board.
The facility is being built at the former Kemsa depot in Embakasi, according to MoH.
During the Mashujaa Day celebrations, President Uhuru Kenyatta said: “The Ministry of Health should operationalise this company to eventually manufacture vaccines in our country by Easter."
The country aims to have a fully fledged human vaccine manufacturing capability by 2024, the National Covid-19 Vaccine Deployment Plan from the Ministry of Health shows.
The factory will also produce other vaccines, such as polio drops.
Vaccine ingredients will be imported in bulk, repackaged into vials, labelled and finished.
Government officials identified Embakasi as a suitable site after Kemsa Kitengela depot was ruled out as the area was densely populated.
In May, the Health ministry said talks were underway with the Oxford AstraZeneca manufacturers to enable importation of large quantities for repackaging in vials.
The ministry has said talks between two potentials partners in the fill-and-finish plant are almost completed.
“We found a place in Embakasi in the industrial area close to the airport. It has been evacuated and it is now ready for renovation,” vaccines deployment taskforce chairman Willis Akhwale said.
Akhwale is also a member of the taskforce headed by Kemri board chairman Daniel Mbinda. It was formed early last year to realise plans for the vaccine plant.
“We have gone for what we call the APIs, which is the active pharmaceutical ingredients.
"We have identified a partner and we are now in nondisclosure, which is why a lot of information is not available. We need to sign first," he said.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)