Kenya has inaugurated an expanded Polio Laboratory at the Centre for Virus Research (CVR) within the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). This cutting-edge facility will strengthen disease surveillance and diagnostics for multiple countries in the region.
The new laboratory, launched on September 16 by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, will primarily serve Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Comoros in polio diagnostics and outbreak monitoring.
This advancement enhances regional health security and marks a significant step in reducing reliance on external labs and accelerating disease response times.
Reducing dependency on external labs
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale emphasised the lab’s strategic importance: “This lab is one of its kind in our region because it will help us reduce our reliance on external labs in other countries, such as South Africa, where the tests used to be sent.”
He explained how the facility provides Kenyan scientists with a platform for innovation and cutting-edge research, supporting Kenya’s ambition to become a continental health science hub.
The laboratory is equipped to perform genomic sequencing, which deciphers the genetic makeup of viruses. This enables quicker identification and containment of outbreaks beyond polio, including diseases like Mpox, measles, rubella, and enteric viruses.
Boosting regional health systems and research capacity
The expanded lab acts as the National and Inter-country Reference Laboratory, serving multiple countries in the Horn of Africa and the Indian Ocean region. It is expected to greatly enhance disease surveillance and diagnostic capabilities across these countries.
The Ministry of Health highlighted that the lack of adequate medical laboratory infrastructure across Africa has long been an obstacle to effective health response, contributing to understaffing, poor diagnostic quality, and challenges in medical data management.
This new facility addresses these gaps and supports Universal Health Coverage (UHC) aspirations by expanding access to essential health services, especially in grassroots communities.
Economic and health impact aligned with the national agenda
Global partners supported the lab’s establishment, including the Gates Foundation, eHealth Africa, and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Aden Duale underscored that the lab’s impact goes beyond health: “Today’s inauguration reaffirms Kenya’s commitment to finish the fight against polio while building stronger, resilient health systems under Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The lab aligns with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) for Health by expanding access to essential services, especially at the grassroots.” The initiative will unlock economic potential by creating job opportunities for unemployed medical researchers and bolstering Kenya’s role in regional health innovation.
With this expanded laboratory, Kenya and the beneficiary countries take a significant step towards bolstered health security, faster outbreak response, and stronger collaborative disease control in East Africa and adjacent regions.
The lab represents a model for an integrated regional health infrastructure vital in preparing for future health emergencies and achieving sustainable health development goals.