Board of Directors and Chair of KEMRI Scientific, Research and Innovation Committee Dr. Damaris Maweu: KASH Conference Aligns with Vision 2030 and Local Manufacturing Agenda

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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 researchers, policymakers, industry players and development partners, the conference strengthens linkages across research, innovation and manufacturing, ensuring that scientific outputs respond to national priorities while contributing to regional and global health goals,” she said.
The Board of Directors, through the Scientific, Research and Innovation Committee, expressed satisfaction with the overwhelming response to this year’s conference, which attracted 405 abstract submissions. The abstracts have been organized into 34 scientific sessions and 22 symposia, creating a robust and comprehensive programme that reflects the growing strength and relevance of health research in Kenya and beyond.

A key highlight of this year’s conference is a pre-conference dialogue on local vaccine manufacturing. The discussions focus on critical areas including financing, regulatory readiness, quality assurance, market shaping and supply chain resilience.

Dr. Maweu emphasized that these conversations underscore the strategic importance of aligning research and innovation with Kenya’s industrialization agenda. She added that strengthening local manufacturing capacity is essential for enhancing national health security and advancing the country’s Universal Health Coverage goals.

The 16th KASH Conference continues to position KEMRI at the forefront of scientific excellence, innovation and policy engagement, reinforcing its role as a central driver of Kenya’s health research ecosystem.

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