Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have raised alarm over the government’s Sh6.7 billion Mpox response fund, saying it’s not adequate and not effectively prioritized. And this is even as the government announced yesterday of the formation of a national multi-agency Mpox team.
The taskforce is expected today with the Council of Governors heeding the Ministry of Health’s request to nominate five (5) representatives from the County Executive Committee (CEC) Caucus and two (2) technical officers from the Counties, preferably communication and law.
During a press conference, the organizations urged the government to refocus the allocation towards critical areas like vaccine procurement, advanced diagnostic tools, and community sensitization.
The CSOs cautioned that for a highly contagious disease with a death-per-infection ratio of about 3.33 percent, the stakes could be high.
“Mpox could follow the same path as COVID-19. The reported five cases today could turn into thousands, just like one COVID case led to more than 300,000 infections and nearly 6,000 deaths. We must act now before it’s too late,” said Dr Samuel Kinyanjui (pictured), Country Program Director at AHF Kenya.
The CSOs further urged the World Health Organisation (WHO) to expedite the review and approval of alternative Mpox vaccines to enhance affordability and accessibility by increasing the number of manufacturers.
Currently, the only available vaccine is the MVA-BN, which costs Sh12,900 per dose, making it prohibitively expensive for many.
Dr. Kinyanjui stressed the urgent need to address these high costs through technology and knowledge transfers, including patent waivers, to enable regional vaccine production. “These measures will increase vaccine supply, reduce costs, and strengthen the global response to Mpox,” he stated.
With Mpox cases confirmed in 18 African countries, including Kenya and neighbouring Uganda, the CSOs expressed concerns about limited diagnostic capacity. The WHO has also warned that many suspected Mpox cases, though clinically consistent with the disease, remain untested and unconfirmed.
Of the allocated Sh6.7 billion, only Sh10 million has been earmarked for screening at border points, with no amount designated for advanced diagnostic tools crucial for rapid and accurate case detection.
