Kenya Improves Cold Chain Systems for Vaccines

Kenya’s Ministry of Health has significantly strengthened its vaccine cold chain by rolling out 2,000 new cold chain equipment units, including solar- and electricity-powered refrigerators, cold boxes, and temperature monitors. These units, donated by UNICEF and distributed across all 47 counties, are expected to improve vaccine storage and access—especially in remote and off-grid areas.
To further boost cold chain reliability, the Ministry also launched the Kenya Electronic National Vaccine and Immunization Portal (KeNVIP), a cloud-based platform that enhances real-time monitoring, traceability, and accountability in immunisation data. Meanwhile, in Nakuru County, health authorities have installed solar-powered vaccine refrigerators at remote facilities like Ng’ondu Dispensary, helping maintain vaccine potency even during power outages.
In Turkana County, the government is deploying Vaccibox units—portable, solar-powered refrigerators with real‑time monitoring through IoT — to 40 hard-to-reach health facilities. These solutions help reduce vaccine wastage and support last-mile immunisation in nomadic and off-grid communities.
On the ultra-cold storage front, Japan has donated 12 ultra-cold freezers capable of storing vaccines at very low temperatures (e.g., –70°C), which will enable Kenya to handle mRNA and other temperature-sensitive vaccines more effectively.
Health officials say these improvements will boost Kenya’s immunisation infrastructure, protect vaccine quality, and make life-saving vaccines more accessible to all—supporting the country’s broader public health and universal health coverage goals.