Kenya is seeking a KSh10 billion loan from the World Bank to help the country purchase the COVID-19 vaccines. This comes after the National Treasury failed to allocate KSh4.5 billion needed for the next phase (second phase) of Covid-19 vaccination starting July, raising the risk that targeted Kenyans could miss out on the jab against the infectious disease.
The money will buy 11 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab used to vaccinate five million persons.
Kenya requires KSh34 billion to ship in 36 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines by June next year, when it expects to have 16 million people inoculated. Donors will provide KSh20 billion, leaving Kenya to seek KSh14 billion from taxes and donors like the World Bank.
The country last week received 1.02 million vaccine doses, enough for slightly over 500,000 people requiring two doses eight to 12 weeks apart.
Kenya is already in talks with the World Bank for the first tranche of KSh5 billion needed in the fiscal year starting July. According to Treasury Principal Secretary Julius Muia, the KSh5 billion loan is part of the country’s KSh14 billion share for vaccines purchase, adding that the KSh34 billion cost is for three years, and the vaccines currently being administered are under the KSh20 billion grant secured.
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