Kenya has taken a front seat in the global fight against malaria, with Nairobi now home to one of the world’s most important production sites for a newly endorsed mosquito repellent.

The development follows the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recognition of spatial repellents as a reliable defence against mosquito-borne illnesses. 

Soon after the endorsement, SC Johnson, the United States consumer goods giant known for products such as OFF and Raid, began large-scale manufacturing at its Kenyan plant.

Two high-speed production lines have already been installed, and at peak capacity the factory can turn out 20 million Guardian units every year.

The Nairobi facility is only part of the wider expansion.

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SC Johnson has also disclosed plans to activate another production line at its Pilar plant in Argentina early next year.

This is expected to double the company’s global supply.

Fisk Johnson, Chairman and Chief Executive of SC Johnson, described the project as the culmination of a long and costly commitment.

“This important milestone comes after more than 10 years of SC Johnson efforts and more than $100 million invested in the development, testing, production and deployment of our spatial repellent products,” Johnson stated.

He went on to underline the organisation’s motivation, adding, “From day one, this has been a not-for-profit initiative driven by our commitment to combat diseases that threaten hundreds of millions of people.”

Malaria remains one of the world’s deadliest diseases, claiming more than 600,000 lives each year.

The repellents, which gradually release an active ingredient that pushes mosquitoes away, are designed to be both affordable and durable, with each unit offering up to twelve months of protection.

The humanitarian reach of the initiative was stressed by Richard Allan, Chief Executive of The MENTOR Initiative, who noted, “There are over a billion people that would benefit from the SC Johnson Guardian™ and SC Johnson Mosquito Shield™ spatial repellents.”

With the new Nairobi lines already in motion, Kenya is no longer just a consumer of global health solutions but a strategic supplier, channelling protection to communities across Africa and beyond.