Kenya has inaugurated an expanded polio laboratory at KEMRI, enhancing diagnostics and genomic surveillance for polio and other viruses.
The facility will serve Kenya and neighbouring countries, including Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Comoros, reducing outbreak response times.
Backed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Gates Foundation, the laboratory strengthens the nation’s health system under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) framework.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, who officially launched the facility on Tuesday, hailed the development as a milestone in advancing Kenya’s Taifa Care model and strengthening compliance with the International Health Regulations (IHR).
“This expansion strengthens our capacity not just in polio eradication but also in monitoring emerging and re-emerging viruses. It reflects Kenya’s resolve to invest in research and laboratory infrastructure for the safety of our citizens,” he said.
Duale added that the laboratory will support timely detection of polio strains while fostering collaboration with regional and global health partners.
Kenya has recorded significant progress in combating polio, having been declared polio-free in 2006.
However, periodic importations from neighboring countries and the threat of circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses remain a concern.
The expanded laboratory will help close these gaps by bolstering early detection, rapid response and sustained surveillance systems.
Beyond Kenya’s borders, it is expected to act as a regional hub for East and Central Africa, contributing to global eradication efforts.
