NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya has launched a state-of-the-art polio laboratory at the Kenya Medical Research Institute’s (KEMRI) Centre for Virus Research to strengthen virus diagnostics and genomic surveillance in the country and across the Horn of Africa.
The facility, inaugurated on Tuesday by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale with support from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and partners, is expected to bolster Kenya’s compliance with International Health Regulations while enhancing rapid detection and response to outbreaks.
The laboratory will serve as both a national and inter-country reference centre, supporting surveillance efforts in Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Comoros.
“This laboratory is a cornerstone for protecting children from the devastating effects of polio,” said Dr. Abdourahmane Diallo, WHO Representative in Kenya. “It strengthens our surveillance capacity, not only for polio but also for measles, rubella, and other vaccine-preventable diseases. With this facility, Kenya is better prepared to detect outbreaks early and respond decisively.”
While designed primarily for polio eradication, officials said the lab is already operating as a multi-pathogen genomic platform, sequencing Mpox, measles, rubella, and enteric viruses.
The Ministry of Health noted this shift would “boost preparedness against future health threats.”
The laboratory launch is part of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), which trained more than 800 health professionals across Africa in 2024 on outbreak investigation, GIS mapping, and laboratory practices.
Kenya has not reported a case of circulating variant poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) for 15 months.
Authorities credit sustained vaccination campaigns, which most recently reached nearly one million children in nomadic, peri-urban, and border communities.
CS Duale described the facility as a “milestone in advancing Kenya’s health security,” while officials emphasised its role in cross-border surveillance in a region vulnerable to poliovirus spread.
The launch was attended by senior health leaders, including Acting KEMRI Director General Dr. Elijah Songok, KEMRI Board Chairperson Dr. Abdullahi Ali, Health PS Dr. Ouma Oluga, Health DG Dr. Patrick Amoth, and WHO’s Dr. Diallo.
