Kenya is on the brink of a public health crisis due to an impending vaccine shortage, with stock levels projected to run out by June 2025 unless the government urgently secures Sh1.6 billion. The Kenya Women Parliamentarians Association (KEWOPA) has sounded the alarm, warning that without immediate government intervention, millions of children could be left vulnerable to preventable diseases such as measles, polio, and tetanus. This looming shortage coincides with a critical transition period, as the country prepares for the gradual withdrawal of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, which has for years been a major donor to Kenya’s immunization programs.
GAVI had initially planned to fully exit Kenya by 2027 but later extended its support under a co-financing arrangement meant to help the country gradually shoulder the financial burden of its immunization needs. However, Kenya has already missed a crucial payment deadline under this agreement. According to KEWOPA, the Ministry of Health failed to meet a Sh1.6 billion co-financing obligation due on March 29, 2025, raising concerns about the country’s readiness to take over full funding responsibilities by the target year of 2029.
Leah Sankaire, Chairperson of KEWOPA and the Kajiado Woman Representative, stressed the urgency of the situation, saying the lives of children are at risk and that delays in funding could reverse significant health gains made over the past two decades. With immunization coverage at 85 percent, Kenya has made substantial progress, but that success now hangs in the balance. Sankaire emphasized that immunization remains heavily reliant on donor funding, and without clear and consistent domestic budgetary support, vaccine availability cannot be guaranteed.
Health advocates have also joined KEWOPA in calling for transparency and swift action. Sankaire urged the Ministry of Health to disclose the country’s current vaccine stock status to Parliament and requested the National Treasury to provide a report detailing Kenya’s financial commitments under the GAVI agreement. The government has been asked to fully finance the immunization budget for the 2025/26 fiscal year, with calls for a clear transitional plan to cover the gap that GAVI’s exit will create.
Representatives from the Health NGOs Network (HENNET) have warned that the risk of vaccine stock-outs is very real. Executive Director Margaret Lubaale pointed out that unless the Sh1.5 to Sh1.6 billion financing is secured by June, Kenya will run out of essential vaccines like polio and measles. She emphasized that the GAVI transition period intended as an eight-year roadmap toward self-financing was structured to prevent abrupt gaps, but delays in co-financing have compromised that plan.
Despite an annual allocation of Sh4 billion for vaccines, stakeholders express concern that these funds are not specifically safeguarded for immunization. This lack of ring-fencing has led to fears that budget reallocations could weaken the country’s ability to maintain routine vaccinations. Moreover, recent vaccine stock-outs including BCG, tetanus, and measles have already highlighted the fragile nature of the current system.
The transition to full domestic funding by 2029 will not be easy, especially as the government grapples with broader fiscal challenges. The rejection of the 2024 finance bill illustrated growing public resistance to new revenue initiatives, which further complicates the task of boosting health sector funding. KEWOPA member Irene Mayaka stressed that the country must avoid overdependence on external donors and begin to chart a path toward financial independence in its healthcare programs.
The coming months are crucial. If the Sh1.6 billion is not raised in time, Kenya may face widespread vaccine shortages that could undermine decades of public health progress. Leaders are calling for urgency, transparency, and political will to protect the health of the nation’s children and ensure that immunization remains a cornerstone of Kenya’s healthcare strategy.
