Parliamentary Health Committee Backs Increased Funding, Commercialisation of KEMRI Research

By Faith wanza mueni 

Photo:The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health

NAIROBI – The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health has pledged to support increased funding for the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) following an oversight visit that highlighted the institution's growing role in health research, innovation and postgraduate training.

Speaking after the committee's budget implementation visit to KEMRI headquarters, Committee Chairperson and Seme Member of Parliament Dr. James Nyikal said the lawmakers were impressed by the institute's achievements but noted that greater investment and stronger commercialization of its innovations are needed to maximize its contribution to the country's healthcare system.

The visit formed part of the committee's oversight mandate to assess the performance of semi-autonomous government agencies (SAGAs) under the Ministry of Health and monitor the implementation of government-funded programmes.

Dr. Nyikal said the committee met KEMRI's leadership, including the board chairperson, the Chief Executive Officer and senior officials, to gain a better understanding of the institute's ongoing research, infrastructure development and future plans.

A key milestone noted during the visit was KEMRI's attainment of a university charter, a move expected to significantly strengthen its role in higher education and research.

According to Dr. Nyikal, the charter now enables the institution to award academic degrees, particularly at postgraduate level, including master's and doctoral qualifications. He said the development will require KEMRI to reorganize its institutional structure to effectively support both its expanded academic mandate and its core responsibility of conducting cutting-edge medical research.

"KEMRI has now got a charter because it does a lot of research and trains postgraduate students, including master's and PhD candidates. Now they can award degrees, meaning their structure will be organized to cater for both the training and research functions," said Dr. Nyikal.

The committee also commended the institute for developing medical products and innovations with the potential to improve healthcare delivery and benefit the wider public. However, members observed that many of the products developed through years of scientific research have not reached commercial markets.

Dr. Nyikal said the committee had recommended that KEMRI establish stronger commercialization mechanisms to ensure that research outputs are transformed into market-ready products capable of generating revenue while improving access to locally developed health solutions.

He noted that commercializing the institute's innovations would not only enhance sustainability but also reduce reliance on external funding for research activities.

"We found that KEMRI produces medical products that can actually be used in the market, but many of them have not been commercialized. We have recommended that they find ways of commercializing these products because that will generate significant income for the institution," he said.

The legislators further emphasized the need for stronger collaboration among Kenya's health research and innovation institutions to eliminate duplication of roles and improve the efficient use of resources.

Dr. Nyikal identified institutions such as BioVax, the Centre for International Health, Education and Biosecurity (CIHEB), the KEMRI Primate Research Institute and the National Cancer Institute of Kenya as organizations whose work intersects with that of KEMRI.

He said the committee had agreed on the need to establish a framework that would enable the various institutions to coordinate their activities, share expertise and complement each other's work instead of competing for similar resources or undertaking overlapping responsibilities.

"We have agreed that a structure should be created to help these institutions work together without duplication and without unnecessary competition," he said.

Funding emerged as another major issue during the visit, with the committee acknowledging that KEMRI requires substantial financial support to sustain its research programmes and complete ongoing infrastructure projects across the country.

Dr. Nyikal said the institute had informed the committee that it requires approximately Sh500 million to support priority projects, including the completion of research facilities and expansion of ongoing programmes.

Among the projects highlighted were developments at the institute's headquarters and other research sites located in different parts of the country, which are expected to strengthen Kenya's capacity for medical research, disease surveillance and public health preparedness.

He said the committee would consider KEMRI's funding needs during the next budget-making process in Parliament.

"As a committee of the National Assembly, when we go into the next budget session, we shall consider KEMRI's needs. From what they have presented to us, they require about Sh500 million for the site and other ongoing projects, and we will see how we can support them," Dr. Nyikal said.

The committee reaffirmed Parliament's commitment to supporting institutions that play a critical role in strengthening Kenya's health sector through research, innovation and capacity building.

Dr. Nyikal noted that the oversight visit had provided members with valuable insight into KEMRI's achievements, challenges and future priorities, adding that the findings would inform the committee's recommendations during budget deliberations.

He said Parliament remains committed to ensuring that research institutions receive the necessary policy and financial support to continue developing innovative health solutions that address emerging diseases, improve healthcare delivery and contribute to national development.

The visit underscores the growing recognition of scientific research as a key pillar in achieving universal health coverage, enhancing disease preparedness and positioning Kenya as a regional leader in medical research and innovation.