Health committee throws weight behind KEMRI’s Sh500m funding request

ARON KINYAMASYO AND MICHAEL OMONDI-KNA

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health has expressed support for the Kenya Medical Research Institute’s (KEMRI) request for an additional Sh500 million to complete the construction of a modern biomedical research complex.

KEMRI considers the facility, located at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), critical to strengthening the country’s disease surveillance systems, research capacity and emergency preparedness.

The committee, chaired by Seme Member of Parliament Dr James Nyikal, made the commitment during an oversight visit to assess the progress of the Exchequer-funded project.

KEMRI said the additional funding is needed to complete the facility and make it fully operational. 

Speaking after the fact-finding visit of the institute, Dr. Nyikal reported that the Committee appreciated the progress made on the facility and recognized the need to ensure its completion, so that it can enhance the country’s capacity in health research, innovation and training.

“The Committee has seen the value of this investment and appreciates the progress achieved so far. We will support efforts to secure the additional funding required to complete the project because it is vital to the country’s health research agenda,” he emphasised.

Endebes Member of Parliament, Dr. Robert Pukose, who is the Vice-Chairperson of the National Assembly Budget and Appropriations Committee, assured KEMRI that the Budget Committee would give due consideration to the Institute’s request during the budget allocation process.

Dr. Pukose noted that investing in research infrastructure would strengthen Kenya’s capacity to search and training.