Immunization is vital for protecting children against potentially life-threatening diseases such as diphtheria, measles, and tetanus, contributing to a healthier future for all. To ensure an uninterrupted supply of vaccines, particularly for children, Kenya signed a co-financing agreement with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), an organization that supports immunization programmes in low-income countries.
In this context, health Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and other stakeholders are urging the government to honour its financial obligation to GAVI, amounting to Ksh 1.6 billion for the current financial year, so that children, particularly those under five, can continue receiving their scheduled vaccines.
Dr. Margaret Lubaale, Executive Director of the Health NGOs Network (HENNET), is concerned that Kenya may face vaccine stockouts this year due to delayed fund disbursements.
“In 2024, Kenya reported vaccine stockouts mainly because of delayed disbursement of funds from the government to pay the co-financing to GAVI to the tune of Ksh 1.25 billion on time,” she explained
In Kenya, childhood immunization protects over 1.5 million infants each year from 20 life-threatening diseases. Dr. Lubaale warned that if children are not fully immunized, many may not reach their fifth birthday.
Dr. Lubaale indicated that the funds ought to be paid to GAVI by 30th March 2025 to allow sufficient time for vaccine procurement, ensuring that by June—the end of the financial year—there is no disruption in vaccine distribution.
“The time to act is now, so that by June we can continue seamless distribution of vaccines to counties,” she asserted.
Allan Miheso, Immunization Programme Officer at HENNET, questioned why Kenya has not fulfilled its co-financing agreement with GAVI, while countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, and Haiti have managed to meet their commitments.
Having transitioned from a low-income to a lower-middle-income country in 2014—after its per capita GDP crossed a World Bank threshold—Kenya is expected to see GAVI withdraw by 2029, leaving the country to fully self-finance its immunization programme. Stakeholders are however worried that if immunization funding is not safeguarded each year after GAVI’s exit, Kenya may face a crisis.
“Every budget year, immunization funds should be ring-fenced. The issue has always been late disbursement of funds. Our greatest fear is that by 2029, when GAVI finally exits, and Kenya is inconsistent in disbursing funds for immunization on time, we will face drastic consequences,” Dr. Lubaale added.
“We don’t want GAVI to pull out prematurely. Right now, we are feeling the impact of the USAID freeze; I don’t think we are ready to endure any more shocks in the health sector,” she lamented.
According to the Kenya Health Data Survey of 2022, there were 101,555 zero-dose children—those who had not received any vaccinations since birth. Mr Mutana, GAVI Advocacy and Communication Lead, pointed out that these numbers are likely to increase, particularly in remote areas, if Kenya fails to honour its co-financing agreement of Ksh. 1.6 billion on time, which is essential for the smooth procurement of vaccines.
Stakeholders voiced their concerns that GAVI had to remind Kenya to fulfil its commitment to co-financing. Dr Lubaale warned, “If Kenya is locked out of the procurement, yet it is not ready to self-finance, it will be catastrophic. Kenya will lose the gains made over the years. If we are going to lose children to preventable diseases like polio, it means Primary Health Care has failed, and therefore achieving Universal Health Coverage will not be realized by 2030.”
Dr Francis Omondi, a consultant, called for strengthening domestic resource mobilization and developing local vaccine manufacturing capacity.
