KEMRI and Nairobi County Sign Landmark MoU to Transform Urban Health Research and Disease Surveillance

By Gladys Mathenge

The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the Nairobi City County Government signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday, 28th January, 2026, with an aim to strengthen collaboration in human health research, capacity building, and service delivery, positioning Nairobi as a leading hub for urban health research and disease surveillance in East Africa.

The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation in clinical trials, disease surveillance, diagnostics, training of healthcare workers, and restoration of joint laboratory support for the Food Handlers Programme, alongside other critical public health research, health innovation and technology initiatives. The partnership is expected to strengthen evidence-based decision-making, and enhance public health impact across the county.

In his opening remarks, Nairobi Governor, Hon. Johnson Sakaja emphasized the importance of datadriven healthcare planning and early disease detection. “Through this collaboration, we will detect diseases early and respond on time. Our health decisions must be guided by evidence rather than assumptions. This partnership strengthens Nairobi’s ability to prevent public health threats and deliver better healthcare services to our people,” said Governor Sakaja.

Governor Sakaja further underscored the transformative impact of integrating research into healthcare delivery across the county. “Nairobi has the highest number of healthcare facilities in the country, yet research has not been fully integrated into service delivery. This partnership is a game changer, enabling us to better monitor, understand, and address the healthcare needs of our people while strengthening specialized care,” he added.

Research findings will inform interventions in water quality, sanitation, and nutrition, supporting Nairobi Water and the county’s flagship school feeding programme, Dishi na County. Data from the County Health Intelligence Unit will also be used to identify gaps in service delivery, monitor disease trends, and evaluate the impact of interventions.

While speaking at the ceremony, the Institute’s Board of Directors Chair, Dr. Abdullahi Ali emphasized that the collaboration presents a valuable opportunity to advance health systems research and generate evidence that delivers meaningful community health impact. “This collaboration creates a strong platform for advancing health systems research and producing practical evidence that strengthens service delivery, builds capacity, and improves specialized care, ultimately improving health outcomes and delivering meaningful community impact,” he stated.

The MoU prioritizes research in maternal and child health, nutrition, environmental health, and disease surveillance. County health facilities and surrounding communities will serve as research sites, while KEMRI will provide technical expertise, Laboratory services, diagnostics support and continuous training for healthcare workers.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, KEMRI Ag Director General (DG), Prof. Elijah Songok, noted that integrating research into healthcare delivery will significantly strengthen service quality and sustainability. “This MoU creates a strong bridge between research and service delivery. By embedding research within county health systems, we will enhance disease surveillance, strengthen diagnostics, and build the capacity of healthcare workers to deliver high-quality, responsive care,” he noted.

The KEMRI delegation present included Board of Directors, Dr. Damaris Maweu and CPA Faith Mwongerah, Members of Senior management including: Ag. Director Research and Development, Dr. Erick Muok, Ag. Director Scientific Programmes, Partnerships and Grants Management, Dr. Zipporah Bukania, Director Corporate Services Mr. Jones Otuke, Ag. Director Research Capacity Building Dr. Martin Bundi and Ag. Director Legal Services, Ms. Margaret Rigoro.

Accompanying the governor, Hon. Sakaja, the team from Nairobi City County Government included County Government Secretary, Mr. Godfrey Akumali, CEC Health, Ms. Suzzane Silantoi, Chief Officer Public Health, Mr. Tom Nyakaba, Chief Officer Health facilities, Mr. Geoffrey Mosiria and Nairobi County Attorney, Ms. Christine Ireri.

The agreement further provides for joint public health campaigns and community engagement, shared laboratory services, expanded training and capacity building across all 17 sub-counties. This strategic partnership marks a significant milestone in strengthening Kenya’s health research ecosystem and building resilient, data-driven health systems that will serve the nation, for generations to come.

The MoU was signed by the Ag. DG, Prof Elijah Songok on behalf of KEMRI and the Nairobi County Secretary, Mr. Godfrey Akumali on behalf of the County.