US-Based Company Moderna to Set Up a Sh57 Billion Vaccine Factory in Kenya

American pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Moderna is set to build a multi-billion-shilling vaccines manufacturing plant in Kenya.

On Monday, President Kenyatta witnessed the signing of an MoU between Kenya and Moderna to establish the first mRNA factory in Africa.

The state-of-the-art mRNA facility is expected to produce up to 500 million doses of vaccines annually.

The Massachusetts-based company plans to invest $500 million (Sh57 billion) in the new facility, which will focus on drug substance manufacturing on the continent of Africa.

Speaking during the function at State House, Nairobi, President Kenyatta said the setting up of the mRNA manufacturing facility will be a game-changer, especially for Kenya which has had the vision to produce vaccines.

“We are celebrating one of the greatest things that has possibly happened since the onset of COVID-19 at the African continent,” he said.

The president further pointed out that the new facility will go a long way in enabling African countries to tackle any emerging future pandemics.

“We all know the challenges that Kenya and the entire continent of Africa went through in the earlier stages of this pandemic that resulted in Africa being left behind. Not because of want but because of lack and Moderna has come to fill that space,” he noted.

“We are truly grateful, for this and I think it will be transformative not just in helping us with the current pandemic but also preparing the continent of Africa for future pandemics.”

He thanked the Director for Africa Centre for Disease Control Dr. John Nkengasong and the US government for supporting Kenya in its endeavor to set up the facility.

On his part, Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said his company is committed to providing a health solution, saying the investment the company is making in Kenya is crucial as it is part of the solution to ensuring global health equity.

“Battling the COVID-19 pandemic over the last two years has provided a reminder of the work that must be done to ensure global health equity,” he said.

He said the mRNA global public health vaccine program, including vaccine programs against HIV and Nipah, will ensure sustainable access to transformative mRNA innovation on the African continent.

Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe signed the MOU on behalf of the Kenyan Government while Shannon Klinger, who is the Moderna chief legal officer, signed on behalf of the company.