The Crisis of Underfunding in Kenya's Health Research Sector
The Coalition for Health Research and Development (CHReaD), a group comprising 38 organizations dedicated to health research and development, has raised serious concerns about the declining investment in Kenya’s health research sector. The coalition warns that if this trend continues, it could lead to a critical shortage of locally developed medical solutions and weaken the country’s ability to respond to emerging health threats.
Despite an increase in overall health sector funding in the 2025/26 budget—rising from KSh127 billion in 2024/25 to KSh138.1 billion—allocations for health research remain alarmingly low. According to the coalition, the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) received only KSh2.7 billion for recurrent costs and a mere KSh40 million for laboratory upgrades. This represents a significant drop compared to the KSh2.5 billion for recurrent costs and KSh537 million for laboratory upgrades in the previous fiscal year. Such reductions leave little room to sustain or launch essential research initiatives.
Another major concern is the National Research Fund (NRF), which is responsible for financing research and innovation in Kenya. In the 2024/25 budget, the NRF received KSh218.7 million, but in the current budget, it received no allocation at all. This sudden withdrawal of funding has created a severe gap in support for research activities across the country.
The situation has been further worsened by the withdrawal of traditional international donors such as USAID. This has resulted in the loss of over $220 million in funding for health research, development, and innovation. As a result, clinical trials are stalling, surveillance systems are weakening, and there is a growing risk of losing top scientists to brain drain.
CHReaD emphasizes that health research is not merely a cost but a high-return investment with proven economic benefits. Every shilling invested in Kenya’s health research and development yields KSh2.40 in short-term returns and KSh4.72 in long-term gains. The coalition argues that failing to invest now represents both a missed economic opportunity and a critical threat to future health security and pandemic preparedness.
In response to these challenges, CHReaD has called for action in three key areas:
1. Emergency Budget Amendment
The coalition urges Parliament to allocate targeted research funds to KEMRI and the NRF in the upcoming supplementary budget. These funds should cover operational research, clinical trial support, and innovation grants to ensure that critical research initiatives can continue.
2. Implementation of the Social Health Authority (SHA) Act Reform
Proposed by KEMRI, this reform aims to amend the SHA Act to allocate 0.1% of the Authority’s monthly collections to fund research institutions. This would help safeguard them from the volatility of donor support, which many rely on heavily.
3. Supporting Market Access and Commercialization
The coalition also calls for the government to prioritize the procurement of locally developed innovations. Additionally, they recommend reviewing the Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Act of 2013 to empower KEMRI, the NRF, and other institutions to commercialize research and generate sustainable revenue.
These measures are essential to ensuring that Kenya can maintain its capacity to develop and implement effective health solutions, while also fostering a robust ecosystem for research and innovation. Without urgent action, the country risks falling behind in its efforts to address public health challenges and secure a healthier future for its population.
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