Kenya has taken a significant step toward advanced vaccine manufacturing and health sovereignty with the official launch of the WHO–MPP mRNA Technology Transfer Project.
The event, presided over by Dr. Festus Noluga, Principal Secretary for Medical Services at the Ministry of Health, brought together representatives from WHO Kenya, the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), leadership from the BioVax Institute and KEMRI, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, development partners, and industry stakeholders including Thermo Fisher.
“This initiative will not only enhance our response to current and emerging health threats but also empower Kenya to contribute meaningfully to regional health security,” Dr. Noluga said.
Board Chairman Board Chairman Dr. Charles Githinji emphasized the importance of strong governance, regulatory excellence, and long-term sustainability to anchor the Programme’s success.
Dr. Oluga challenged Kenyan scientists to fully exploit the mRNA platform, innovate beyond COVID-19, and apply the technology to priority diseases and future health threats.
Through this technology transfer, Kenya BioVax Institute will gain end-to-end mRNA manufacturing know-how, strengthen local technical expertise, and establish a scalable platform to produce future vaccines and therapeutics locally—positioning Kenya as a credible regional hub for advanced biopharmaceutical innovation.innovation.
