President Ruto announces construction of Ksh.66B Moderna vaccine factory

President William Ruto on Thursday announced the construction of a $500 million (approx. Ksh.66 billion) Moderna vaccine facility in Nairobi.

Speaking on Thursday during the American chamber of commerce regional business summit, the Head of State said the facility will be the first of its kind in the continent.

“I want to highlight the medical and pharmaceutical sector where I have a major announcement to make. It is with pleasure that I announce a finalised deal between Moderna and the Government of Kenya to build a $500 million mRNA vaccine facility in Nairobi area,” he said.

“This will be the only such facility on the African continent and, for Moderna, their first factory outside the United States. Moderna’s investment will be a catalyst for the medical and pharmaceutical industry in Africa. This is historic. This is big. This is my administration’s vision for the future of Kenya.”

This is however not the first time the vaccine facility is being announced, as former President Uhuru Kenyatta last year witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Kenya and Moderna to establish the factory.

Kenyatta, at the time, said the state-of-the-art mRNA facility would produce up to 500 million doses of vaccines each year.

President Ruto also credited Kenya with leading the continent in e-mobility services with two and three-wheel electric vehicles and buses.

“We are home to over 30 e-mobility companies, including industry leaders like KiriEV, Roam, BasiGo, ArcRide and Powerhive, while attracting regional players like Ampersand, who expanded into the Kenyan market with US support, and US electric vehicle industry leader, Rivian, who has e-safari vehicles operating in Kenya. These companies and many others are raising significant capital and transforming Africa's future,” he stated.