Kenya Positions Itself as Regional Health Hub with Expanded Polio Laboratory

Reporting by Jameson Mutua 

The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) has officially inaugurated its Expanded Polio Laboratory, a state-of-the-art facility set to revolutionize disease surveillance and response in Kenya and across the region. The laboratory, hosted at KEMRI’s Centre for Virus Research in Nairobi, was unveiled on Tuesday by the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Hon. Aden Duale, alongside the Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga.

Speaking during the inauguration, KEMRI’s Acting Director General, Prof. Elijah Songok, described the new facility as a landmark achievement in Kenya’s fight against polio and other infectious diseases.

“For more than 20 years, KEMRI has hosted the Polio Laboratory, serving both as Kenya’s National Reference Laboratory and as an Inter-country Reference Laboratory for Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Comoros,” Prof. Songok said. “This expansion addresses a critical challenge that previously forced genomic sequencing of polioviruses to be done abroad, causing delays of over 35 days in results. With this new capacity, turnaround times will be dramatically reduced, ensuring faster surveillance and outbreak response.”

The facility, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will not only focus on poliovirus sequencing but also serve as a multi-pathogen genomic platform. It is already sequencing diseases such as measles, rubella, monkeypox (Mpox), and enteric viruses, strengthening Kenya’s compliance with International Health Regulations (IHR) and boosting pandemic preparedness.

Prof. Songok emphasized KEMRI’s pivotal role in national and global health security. He highlighted the institute’s historic contributions during major public health crises, including HIV/AIDS, malaria, Ebola, and most recently COVID-19, where KEMRI spearheaded national testing, genomic sequencing, and policy guidance.

“Today, this Expanded Polio Laboratory joins a proud lineage as a legacy project,” he noted. “It cements Kenya’s leadership in health research and positions us as a regional hub for genomic surveillance.”

The Director General also revealed new collaborations, including plans by WHO to facilitate local manufacturing of liquid nitrogen at KEMRI. This will support advanced diagnostics, preservation of biological resources, and enhance the One-Health approach by strengthening both human and veterinary laboratories in Kenya.

Acknowledging the contributions of partners, Prof. Songok paid tribute to the Ministry of Health, WHO, the Gates Foundation, the Ministry of Public Works, and KEMRI’s board, scientists, and staff for their role in completing the project.

“With this facility, we are confident that Kenya will continue to play a frontline role in the global push to eradicate polio, just as the world succeeded in eradicating smallpox in 1979,” he said.

The expanded laboratory is expected to accelerate disease detection, guide public health interventions, and safeguard the region against future epidemics and pandemics.

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