Committee on Health pledges support for State Agencies

Committee on Health pledges support for State Agencies 

𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐚k𝐚𝐬𝐢, 𝐍𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐢 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲

The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Health has pledged full support to state agencies under its mandate to ensure they effectively fulfill their responsibilities.

Committee Chairperson Hon. James Nyikal (Seme) made the assurance during a meeting with top officials of the Kenya BioVax Institute Limited after a fact-finding visit to the agency’s headquarters in Embakasi, Nairobi.

Kenya BioVax Institute Limited, a state-owned company, is mandated to manufacture and commercialize vaccines and other health products to enhance access to affordable healthcare and ensure health commodity security.

The committee visited the institute—one of the Semi-Autonomous Government Agencies (SAGAs) under its purview—to assess its progress and preparedness in local vaccine manufacturing. 

“As a committee, we are committed to ensuring that Kenya BioVax Institute and other state agencies under our purview receive the necessary policy and budgetary support to enable them to deliver on their mandates effectively,” said Hon. Nyikal.

Before the meeting, the agency’s management, led by Acting CEO Dr. Cecilia Wanjala, took the MPs on a guided tour of the facility, where ongoing enabling works are being carried out to establish a state-of-the-art vaccine production facility. 

Dr. Wanjala briefed the lawmakers on the milestones achieved so far, the status of infrastructure development, and the challenges faced by the institute. 

She also emphasized the strategic importance of the facility in responding to future pandemics.

At the meeting, Hon. Nyikal directed the institute’s management to provide a detailed breakdown of the funds required to ensure the timely completion of ongoing works and the full operationalization of the facility.