Kenya News updates

By Irene Mwende The Agriculture and Livestock Committee of the National Assembly has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening agricultural regulation following a productive three-day retreat in Mombasa focused on enhancing the performance of two key regulatory agencies—the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KePHIS) and the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB). The retreat provided Members of Parliament with an in-depth understanding of the operational environments of the two institutions, including their mandates, scope of work, internal and external linkages, institutional capacities, and their critical role in safeguarding Kenya’s agricultural sector. The engagement was designed to align legislative oversight with the practical realities facing the agencies. Speaking after the retreat, Committee Chairperson Hon. John Mutunga emphasized the importance of robust regulatory systems in protecting farmers, consumers, and the environment while promoting trade ...

By Irene  Kenya is steadily positioning itself as a continental leader in Africa’s ambition to achieve 60 percent vaccine self-sufficiency by 2040, with progress anchored under the Kenya Vision 2030 development blueprint. Speaking at the 16th KEMRI Annual Scientific and Health (KASH) Conference, Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat Director General Mr. Kenneth Mwige outlined milestones the country has achieved in strengthening local vaccine manufacturing, policy coordination, and health-sector investment. The conference, held under the theme “The Future of Health: Scientific Research, Innovations, Technologies and Manufacturing for a Resilient UHC,” brought together leading scientists, policymakers, and global health partners. Mr. Mwige noted that sustained governance reforms, results-based planning, and strategic public–private partnerships have laid a firm foundation for technology transfer, industrial growth, and investment mobilization in Kenya’s health sector. He empha...

Principal Secretary for Aviation and Aerospace Development, Teresia Mbaika, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships with the World Bank to accelerate growth in Kenya’s aviation and infrastructure sectors. Speaking after chairing a high-level meeting with senior World Bank officials and key stakeholders in the infrastructure sector, PS Mbaika described the discussions as productive and forward-looking, particularly as the country prepares for the modernization of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). “The World Bank remains a vital strategic partner in Kenya’s development journey. Its historic support for transformative projects such as the Northern Corridor demonstrates the impact of strong collaboration. We are now exploring similar partnerships to unlock growth in aviation and aerospace development,” she said. The meeting brought together World Bank representatives Joseph Sasia and Megersu Abate, alongside officials from th...

By Irene Mwende  Thousands of families affected by protest-related violence have issued what they describe as a strong and final demand for immediate compensation, saying years of waiting, court battles, and unfulfilled promises have left them in deep pain, poverty and uncertainty. In a passionate statement, the victims said many families lost breadwinners during protests, leaving widows, children and dependents without financial support. Despite the passage of time, they claim that a significant number of affected households have received no compensation. “Thousands of Kenyan families are living in pain, poverty, and uncertainty after losing their loved ones during protests. Breadwinners were killed, families were shattered, and children were left without support. To date, many of these families have received nothing. Tumesahaulika sasa,” the statement read. The group said they had exercised patience and respected institutions but that their endurance had now run out. ...

By Irene Mwende The Board of Directors and Chair of the Scientific, Research and Innovation Committee at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Dr. Damaris Maweu, has reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to advancing health research and local manufacturing as key pillars of Kenya’s development agenda. Speaking during the 16th Annual Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Scientific and Health (KASH) Conference, Dr. Maweu said the forum is firmly aligned with Kenya Vision 2030 and the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, both of which recognize research and local manufacturing as critical drivers of health security, socio-economic transformation  and sustainable development. Dr. Maweu noted that KASH serves as a strategic platform through which KEMRI advances its institutional mandate to generate scientific evidence, develop innovative technologies and translate research findings into policy and practice. “By bringing together researc...

By Irene Mwende  Kenya must urgently invest in local vaccine manufacturing to safeguard itself against future disease outbreaks, health sector leaders have warned, noting that continued overreliance on imported vaccines poses a serious risk to national health security. Speaking during the 16th Kenya Association of Scientists and Health Professionals (KASH) Conference held in Nairobi,  Director General   KEMRI Prof. Elijah Songok said the country must begin producing its own vaccines to guarantee long-term preparedness and resilience against emerging health threats. “It is time we start producing our own vaccines to avoid future outbreaks,” he  said, revealing that Kenya currently imports about 99 per cent of the vaccines used locally. He described the situation as both unsustainable and risky, particularly during global health crises when international supply chains are often disrupted. Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Director General Prof. ...