KEMRI’s Proposed New Governance Reforms Ahead of Postgraduate Training Launch

BY WODERA JAMES

At the heart of KEMRI’s new transformation from a leading health research institution into a specialised, degree-awarding institution lies a critical task of rebuilding the governance framework to match its expanded mandate.

This ambition took centre stage at Sawela Lodges in Naivasha, from 12th, to 16th, October 2026, as the Institute’s Board of Directors and the top Management team embarked on an intensive review of 46 proposed statutes and accompanying policies designed to shape its next chapter in research, postgraduate training and innovation.

This five-day working session, led by Board Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ali and Acting Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer Prof. Elijah Songok, marked a significant milestone in operationalising KEMRI’s Charter and laying the institutional foundations for the anticipated launch of postgraduate programmes in the new year.

The proposed statutes are organised into seven broad areas covering preliminary and institutional governance provisions; research, innovation, medical services and health; academic programmes, students and awards; academic and administrative staff; alumni and convocation; fees, finance, procurement and collaborations; and instruments of governance, general and transitional provisions.

At the heart of the new framework is KEMRI’s enduring mandate to improve human health through research, capacity building, innovation and service delivery. The reforms are intended to strengthen the Institute’s leadership in shaping Kenya’s national health research agenda, advising national and county governments on health matters, and providing specialised laboratory, diagnostic and clinical services.

The Charter further expands KEMRI’s institutional responsibilities to include the award of specialised postgraduate degrees, strengthening innovation and incubation, and managing intellectual property arising from research products and services. It also positions the Institute to contribute more significantly to national health security through critical research infrastructure, including biobanks, data banks, regulatory sandboxes and expanded clinical trial platforms, alongside the development of research and teaching hospitals.

Speaking during the retreat, Prof. Songok emphasised that the expanded mandate calls for a forward-looking national health research agenda that builds on existing strengths while responding to emerging public health priorities.

“Infectious diseases remain central, but the future also requires strength in genomics, vaccines and diagnostics, One Health and climate, non-communicable diseases and women’s health, traditional medicine, and data science and artificial intelligence. Our science must remain nationally relevant, regionally useful and globally competitive,” said Prof. Songok.

Dr. Ali challenged the Institute’s leadership to translate the opportunities presented by the Charter into tangible benefits for Kenyans, stressing that the expanded institutional status comes with greater responsibility and public expectations.

“To whom much is given, much is expected,” he said. “This is central to our future. KEMRI will not simply teach students in classrooms, we will train researchers where science is done: in laboratories, field stations, clinical trials, surveillance platforms and innovation projects.”

The planned postgraduate programmes will build on KEMRI’s established research strengths and existing capacity-building platforms, including the KEMRI Graduate School, the Initiative to Develop African Leaders in Malaria (IDeAL) and the Leadership in Epidemiology and African Women’s Health (LEA-WH) programme. These efforts will complement the Institute’s wider training and research collaborations, including programmes supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and other partners.

The retreat also received updates from two human resource consultants undertaking work on the Institute’s revised human resource instruments and Workload Analysis Report. These reviews form part of the broader institutional reforms intended to align KEMRI’s organisational structures, staffing arrangements and operational systems with its expanded academic and research responsibilities.

Board Directors who attended the retreat included Mr. Luka Chemwolo, Mr. Christopher Marwa, Dr. Rose Bosire and Ms. Wangui Njenga. The senior management team comprised Directors Dr. Erick Muok, Dr. Martin Bundi, Mr. Jones Otuke, Mr. Edwin Bett and Ms. Margaret Rigoro, alongside Mr. Naftali Ndungu, who represented Dr. Zipporah Bukania.

Deputy Directors in attendance were Dr. Kalu Kitaba, Mr. Gabriel Kamau, Mr. Ben Sifuna, Mr. Patrick Gitau, Mr. Davis Mkoji, Ms. Purity Ndanu and Ms. Diana Okello. The retreat was further supported by Ms. Joan Lelei, James Wodera, and Secretariat members Mr. Brian Orwa, Ms. Yvette Musumba, Ms. Catherine Gachoya, Ms. Jennifer Ngetich and Ms. Emily Amuguni.

As KEMRI progresses towards implementing its new governance framework, the review of the proposed statutes and policies marks an important milestone in laying the institutional foundation for specialised postgraduate training, advanced health research and innovation. The reforms are expected to strengthen the Institute’s capacity to develop the next generation of health researchers while delivering scientific solutions that respond to Kenya’s national priorities and contribute to global health.