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February 25, 2026Six Decades of Japan–Kenya Partnership Spotlighted During Media Tour at KEMRI
By Stella Njung’e and Lisper Mokaya
KEMRI in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan, organized a media tour of the Institute facility on Tuesday, 17th February 2026, that was aimed at show casing tangible outcomes of the Kenya-Japan bilateral cooperation.
The media tour was designed to deepen public understanding of Japan–Kenya collaboration, particularly in strengthening Kenya’s health systems and scientific research capacity. By showcasing the outcomes of this long-standing partnership, the Embassy aims to enhance visibility of shared achievements while reinforcing public appreciation of Japan’s contribution to Kenya’s development agenda.
Over the years, Japan has remained a strategic and dependable partner to KEMRI. Through collaborations with institutions such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Nagasaki University, the partnership has significantly transformed the Institute’s infrastructure and technical capacity. The collaboration has supported infrastructural and human resource capacity strengthening critical to delivering high-quality scientific out-puts.
Through initiatives such as the Third Country Training Programme (TCTP), the East African (EA) region has benefit from this capacity-building programme that equip scientists and health professionals with laboratory preparedness skills, skills that came in handy during the EA region response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The partnership has also facilitated student and expert exchange programmes, fostering knowledge transfer and cross-cultural scientific collaboration.
Japan’s support has extended to research funding and implementation of key public health initiatives, including projects such as the national school deworming programme and STRATEPS. Additionally, investments in product development, including therapeutics from herbal medicine, underscore a shared commitment to innovation and locally relevant health solutions.
The delegation was received by Dr. Martin Bundi on behalf of the Acting Director General, Prof. Elijah Songok, alongside KEMRI scientists and support staff. The engagement and a conducted tour provided an opportunity for journalists to interact directly with researchers, observe ongoing projects, and appreciate firsthand the outcomes of six decades of partnership.
In attendance during the visit were; Acting Deputy Director Centre for Traditional Medicine and Drug Research (CTMDR), Dr. Jeremiah Gathirwa, Deputy Director Corporate Communications Mr. Davis Mkoji, Acting Deputy Director ESACIPAC Dr. Paul Gichuhi, and research scientists Dr. Earnest Wandera and Ibrahim Mwangi and Jean Chepng’etich from Directorate Scientific Programmes, Partnerships, and Grants Management (DSPPGM) John Kanyeki representing Engineering and Florence Bungei. Also Present was Ms. Okano Kanako from the Embassy of Japan in Kenya and Mr. Elijah Kinyangi and Ms. Kaneko Nae from JICA Kenya Office.
