KEMRI Charts New Course in Face of Funding Challenges

KEMRI’s Board of Directors and Senior Management convened for a week-long meeting from 23rd to 27th June 2025, to take stock of the year’s achievements and chart new, innovative strategies to advance the Institute’s research agenda on the global stage. The meeting also focused on addressing the evolving funding landscape and aligning institutional priorities with emerging opportunities.

The Institute is currently grappling with the changing donor funding landscape coupled with budget cuts, and rising operational costs, have put pressure on KEMRI’s traditional research funding model. Further government allocations have shrunk while external grants have become more competitive, forcing the Institute to rethink strategies to not only conduct research but to sustain it.

In his opening remarks the Board Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ali, set a resolute tone stating “This is a defining moment for our Institute. We must move from depending to designing, from requesting to innovating.”

In lieu of the changing funding landscape, a three-part deep-dive into the Institute’s fundraising strategies session pinpointed various avenues that will boost fundraising, spur research and enhance sustainability. The laid down strategies include; strengthening innovation and commercialization to scale up and license homegrown technologies such as diagnostics, vaccines and reagents, engaging philanthropic foundations and international development investors in thematic areas like pandemic preparedness, climate-health research, and genomic surveillance and create endowment fund to anchor future sustainability.

In addition, the team emphasized the critical role of Governance and Talent Management in organizational success, noting that people structures and trust form the backbone of any institution. Strengthening institutional policies, particularly those related to mentorship, succession planning, rewards, and sanctions were identified as significant. These frameworks, if effectively implemented, are expected to significantly support the attainment of the institute’s strategic goals.

The meeting concluded with a unified call that stressed on strategic survival through innovation and self-reliance.

In attendance were Ag. Director General, Prof. Elijah Songok, Board Directors Dr. Damaris Maweu, CPA. Faith Mwongerah, Mr. Christopher Marwa, Mr. Luka Chemwolo, Dr. Rebecca Kiptui, Ms. Wangui Njenga and Ms. Vivian Chebii. They were joined by Ag. Director Scientific Programs, Partnerships and Grants Management; Dr. Mariciannah Onono, Dr. Sammy Njenga representing Director Research and Development, Director Corporate Services; Mr. Jones Otuke, Ag. Director Strategy & Compliance; Mr. Edwin Bett, Ag. Director Research Capacity Building; Dr. Martin Bundi, Ag. Corporation Secretary & Director Legal Services; Ms. Margaret Rigoro, Deputy Director Corporate Communications; Mr. Davis Mkoji, Deputy Director Supply Chain Management; Mr. Kalu Kitaba, Ag. Deputy Director Finance & Accounts; Mr. Gabriel Kamau, Ag. Deputy Director Commercial Enterprise; Ms. Carolyne Wandera, Deputy Director Human Resource Management; Mr. Ben Sifuna, Deputy Director Internal Audit; Mr. Patrick Gitau, KEMRI-MoH Liaison Officer; Dr. Kizito Lubano, and Ms. Purity Ndanu representing Deputy Director ICT