This archive report was first published on 23 April 2020.
On April 21, 2020, the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) presented ventilators to the Cabinet Secretary for Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development, Betty Maina. The ventilators, approved by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), were developed by local manufacturers under KAM's banner to aid in the fight against COVID-19.
The ventilators, named PUMUAISHI 2.0, are equipped with a four-hour battery, enabling them to continue service to patients in the event of a power blackout. The ventilators are also designed to be produced immediately for use in hospitals, with 75% of the materials used in their production sourced locally.
Ms. Maina reiterated the need for developing homegrown solutions to combat COVID-19, stating, 'KAM's Automotive Sector is tapping into homegrown talent and expertise to develop ventilators that can be produced immediately for use in hospitals. We can see the amount of innovation that is possible in our country.'
KAM Chief Executive, Phyllis Wakiaga, noted that this innovation is a demonstration of the local industry's capacity to fill supply chain gaps in various sectors. She added that the ventilator will be patented and supplied locally, but will also be produced for export markets.
The invention brought together local experts from various fields, including programmers, biomedical engineers, doctors, and automotive engineers. Companies providing key experts include Mutsimoto Motor Company, Mobius Motors, Kenyatta National Hospital, and Aga Khan University among others.
