The Mt Kenya Times 
Dr. Samuel Kinyanjui, Country Program Director at AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Kenya addresses the media on matters of Mpox
By: Cynthia Masibo
Civil society organizations (CSOs) have expressed concern about the Kenyan government’s Ksh. 6.7 billion Mpox response plan, deeming the fund insufficient and poorly allocated. In a press statement, the CSOs urged the government to redirect resources towards essential areas such as vaccine procurement, advanced diagnostic tools, and community sensitization efforts.
The press conference was attended by representatives from AHF Kenya, KETAM, HENNET, North Star Alliance, the Pandemic Action Network (PAN), and the National Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya (NEPHAK). They called for more robust collaboration with the government to ensure that the Mpox outbreak is effectively managed, particularly in vulnerable communities.
On Sunday, the government announced that Ksh. 800 million would be used to set up temporary isolation spaces, while Ksh. 91 million would go towards healthcare worker training. Additional funds are earmarked for screening, personal protective equipment (PPE) procurement, and community-based surveillance. However, there is no allocation for vaccine procurement, a critical component in combating the highly contagious virus.
Dr. Samuel Kinyanjui, Country Program Director at AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Kenya, warned that the situation could quickly escalate. “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,” he cautioned.
With Mpox confirmed in 18 African countries, including Kenya and Uganda, civil society leaders are particularly alarmed about the lack of vaccines and the high cost of the only available option, the MVA-BN vaccine, which is priced at KES 12,900 per dose. They urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to fast-track the approval of alternative vaccines to enhance accessibility and affordability. Dr. Kinyanjui also called for 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 emphasized, noting that local manufacturing could help make vaccines more affordable for low-income populations.
Another concern raised by CSOs is the government’s limited focus on diagnostics. Of the Ksh. 6.7 billion allocated for Mpox response, only Ksh. 10 million is earmarked for border screening, with no specific funding for advanced diagnostic tools. The WHO has warned that many suspected Mpox cases, although clinically consistent with the disease, remain untested and unconfirmed due to limited diagnostic capacity.
James Kamau, from the Kenya Treatment Access Movement (KETAM), criticized the government’s approach to funding and accountability. “We are asking the government to allocate funds specifically for disaster management, including pandemics,” Kamau stated, referencing the National Treasury’s yet-to-be-operationalized Disaster Management Fund. He also underscored the need for transparency to avoid misuse of funds, warning against the creation of “Mpox billionaires,” echoing the COVID-19 corruption scandals.
The CSOs also emphasized the critical role civil society and community organizations play in Mpox prevention and response efforts. Faith Ndungu, Advocacy and Communication Manager of the Health NGOs’ Network (HENNET), stressed the importance of collective action, saying, “As civil society and communities, we are crucial in prevention, referrals, and sensitization, and we urge the Ministry of Health to empower us in these efforts.”
As the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reports over 21,000 Mpox cases and more than 700 deaths, the CSOs stressed that Kenya must take immediate action to avoid a similar trajectory.
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