NYERI, Kenya – Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has launched a Sh10.8 billion Strategic Plan aimed at transforming the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI) into a regional powerhouse in livestock disease prevention.
The five-year roadmap (2023–2027), unveiled Tuesday in Nyeri, is anchored in President William Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and seeks to double the country’s annual vaccine production from 35 million to 70 million doses.
“Healthy livestock means healthy livelihoods,” said Kagwe. “This plan reaffirms our commitment to securing farmers’ incomes, strengthening food security, and positioning Kenya as a global leader in animal health.”
KEVEVAPI, which funds about 75 percent of its operations through vaccine sales, will use the funds to scale up the production of critical vaccines targeting diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease, Lumpy Skin Disease, and Peste des Petits Ruminants.
These ailments continue to threaten livestock productivity, regional trade, and rural economies.
Kagwe noted that the institute has already demonstrated its potential, having produced over 177 million vaccine doses between 2018 and 2022, with 11.3 million exported to neighbouring countries.
The new strategy includes major upgrades to KEVEVAPI’s Embakasi and Kabete production facilities to meet international Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), enabling wider exports to markets such as Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, DRC, Djibouti, Mali, and Burundi.
“Kenya is not just vaccinating for itself — we are building an export-driven model that will bring revenue from vaccine sales globally,” Kagwe said.
The plan comes at a time when Kenya’s livestock sector, valued at over Sh235 billion and contributing about 12 percent of GDP, continues to suffer from recurrent disease outbreaks.
The ministry sees the plan as a critical tool for both economic resilience and public health.
“The modernisation of KEVEVAPI and the expansion of its capacity is not just a veterinary milestone — it’s a national development priority,” Kagwe added.
The Cabinet Secretary said the government would continue supporting research, innovation, and international collaborations to enhance Kenya’s role in global animal health.
