Nairobi, Kenya - Kenya today inaugurated a newly upgraded World Health Organization (WHO)-accredited polio laboratory at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), marking a major step forward in the country’s efforts to detect and respond rapidly to poliovirus and other epidemic-prone diseases.

The handover of the facility, supported by WHO and by a grant from the Gates Foundation, represents a significant investment in health security for Kenya and the wider African Region, coming at a time when countries are striving to stop circulating variant poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) outbreaks.

Located within KEMRI’s Centre for Virus Research, the laboratory plays a critical role in the African Regional Polio Laboratory Network, a system of 16 WHO-accredited laboratories across the continent. These labs ensure that stool and environmental samples are quickly tested for polioviruses, guiding immunization campaigns and outbreak response.

In 2024 alone, more than 5000 stool and environmental samples were processed across the African network, enabling rapid detection of poliovirus and helping to stop transmission in countries such as Madagascar and Mozambique. 

The new KEMRI facility is equipped with cutting-edge molecular diagnostic platforms, expanded sample storage capacity, and improved biosafety standards, ensuring timely, accurate results.

“This laboratory is a cornerstone for protecting children from the devastating effects of polio. It strengthens our surveillance capacity, not only for polio but also for measles, rubella, and other vaccine-preventable diseases. With this facility, Kenya is better prepared to detect outbreaks early and respond decisively,” said Dr. Abdourahmane Diallo, WHO Representative in Kenya.

The KEMRI laboratory is not only critical for Kenya, it also supports cross-border surveillance in the Horn of Africa, one of the regions at highest risk for poliovirus spread. Coordinated campaigns and synchronized laboratory support are vital for protecting children in hard-to-reach and border areas.

The handover ceremony was attended by Hon Aden Duale, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Health, as well as representatives from the KEMRI laboratory, the WHO, the Gates Foundation, eHealth, and other partners, underscoring the collaboration behind the achievement.

The laboratory upgrade is part of broader efforts by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), which in 2024 supported training of over 800 health professionals in GIS mapping, outbreak investigation, and laboratory practices across Africa. In Kenya, surveillance and vaccination activities continue to reach children in nomadic, peri-urban and cross-border communities, with the latest vaccination round against polio having protected nearly 1 million children.

Kenya has not reported circulating variant poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) cases in the past 15 months, and continued surveillance and Kenya’s strengthened laboratory capacity will help sustain this momentum and ensure no resurgence.