Kenya Enhances Cold Chain Capacity for Vaccines

The Kenyan government has significantly boosted its vaccine cold chain infrastructure as part of a major immunization-strengthening drive. On 14 May 2025, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale flagged off 2,000 new cold-chain equipment (CCE) units, including solar‑ and electricity-powered refrigerators, cold boxes, and temperature monitors. These units were donated by UNICEF and will be distributed across all 47 counties to ensure vaccines are stored safely even in remote or off-grid areas.
In parallel with the physical infrastructure upgrade, the Ministry of Health launched the Kenya Electronic National Vaccine and Immunization Portal (KeNVIP) — a cloud‑based digital system to track vaccine stocks, monitor cold-chain performance, and improve decision-making in real time.
At the county level, several regions are adopting modern solutions. In Turkana County, for instance, 40 health facilities will receive solar-powered smart Vaccibox refrigerators equipped with IoT‑enabled temperature monitoring, allowing real-time tracking of vaccine storage conditions. In Nakuru, a solar-fridge has already been installed at Ng’ondu Dispensary, helping maintain vaccine viability without relying on grid electricity.
To support more sophisticated vaccines requiring ultracold storage, Japan has donated 12 ultra-cold freezers, capable of storing vaccines at very low temperatures.This expansion in cold chain capacity is aimed at strengthening Kenya’s immunization infrastructure—both for routine vaccines and potential future vaccines with stricter storage requirements.