The number people that have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in Kenya is nearing the 1.7 million mark, according to the latest figures published by the health ministry.

The East African has so far fully inoculated 1,699,584 people, with the total number of people that have taken at least one jab standing at 5,427,617.

Kenya rolled out its mass vaccination drive in March 2021, aiming to contain further spread of the virus.

The health ministry initially targeted persons that were considered to be at high risk, including the elderly, people with underlying health conditions, health care workers, teaching and non-teaching staff in educational facilities as well as security officers.

Kenya's medicine regulatory agency has approved China's Sinopharm vaccine alongside vaccines developed by Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer and AstraZeneca.

The number of virus-related fatalities in the country currently stands at 5,282.