Kenya launches science strategy for health and innovation

Kenya is planning a significant increase in public investment in science and research over the next decade. The goal is to strengthen the health system, promote innovation, and advance local manufacturing, including vaccine production.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced the plan at the 16th Kenya Health and Scientific (KASH) Conference. The government intends to progressively increase funding for science from the current 0.8 per cent of GDP to 2 per cent by 2036, as outlined in a new 10-year national science strategy.

Government’s Economic Agenda and Universal Health Coverage

Duale stated that the increased investment aims to position Kenya as a regional hub for research and innovation. He emphasized that science and innovation are central to building a resilient, affordable, and locally anchored health system, aligning with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). The plan supports Universal Health Coverage (UHC), which is built on four pillars: primary healthcare, a fit-for-purpose health workforce, access to essential services, and a strong digital health ecosystem.

Digitization in Healthcare

The government is leveraging digitization to improve healthcare tracking and delivery. Real-time monitoring of hospital capacity and service demand is intended to enhance efficiency and accountability within health facilities. This digitization effort is part of a broader strategy to build a resilient health system that protects families from catastrophic health costs.

Conference Highlights and KEMRI’s Role

The KASH Conference, attended by 1,400 registered delegates and featuring 22 symposiums, underscored growing interest in health research. The KEMRI Director-General and CEO described the conference as “the biggest platform for strengthening the link between science and implementation.” KEMRI’s role is to generate evidence, validate it, and translate it into policies and solutions that improve public health. KEMRI has been elevated to a strategic national institution with an expanded role in linking science to industry and supporting research in areas like genomics, climate and health, and emerging diseases.

Local Vaccine Manufacturing

A key focus of the science investment plan is local vaccine manufacturing, which Duale described as a matter of national security and sovereignty. He noted that currently, 99 per cent of vaccines used in Africa are imported, stating that local manufacturing is a “strategic necessity.” Through partnerships like the KEMRI BioVax Institute, Kenya aims to localize up to 60 per cent of vaccine production in the coming years. The country also anticipates transitioning away from Gavi support by 2030, further emphasizing the need for self-reliance.

The 10-Year Science Strategy

The 10-year science strategy (2026–2036) will align academia, research institutions, and industry with measurable national outcomes. It aims to ensure that research directly informs government policy and national development priorities. Planned actions include strengthening regulatory systems, building manufacturing capacity, and fostering innovation ecosystems.

Call to Action for Researchers and Partners

Duale encouraged researchers to intensify mission-oriented research, increase publications and patents, and collaborate widely. He also invited development partners and investors to collaborate with Kenya in building a science-driven economy, emphasizing openness to partnerships that create jobs, transfer knowledge, and deliver quality health products.