Nairobi, Feb. 9 -- The World Bank has committed $120 million (Sh19.1 billion at current exchange rates) to fund Kenya's vaccine production facility, which is expected to start operations in 2029.

Health PS Harry Kimutai disclosed the funding when he accompanied the World Bank vice president for human development Mamta Murthi, on her tour of the facility in Embakasi in Nairobi, on Wednesday.

Kenya BioVax Institute is setting up the facility and it is expected to release the first batch of the locally packaged (filling and packaging imported vaccines) critical commodity for health in the next five years.

The facility will have two filling lines, which the agency says will have the capacity to meet Kenya's annual vaccine demand forecast a...