National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health visit to the Kenya Institute of Primate Research (KIPRE)

The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health visited the Kenya Institute of Primate Research (KIPRE) on 22 July 2026 to engage with the Institute on strengthening research and innovation in public health.

The discussions focused on key national health priorities, including snakebite envenoming, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), non-communicable diseases (NCDs), Tropical and infectious diseases, Reproductive Health and One Health with emphasis on the critical role of research in addressing these emerging and persistent public health challenges.

The 12-member parliamentary delegation was led by the Committee Chairman, Hon. Dr. James Nyikal, accompanied by the Vice Chairman, Hon. Patrick Munene. The KIPRE delegation was led by the Board Chairman, Prof. Josephat Mulimba, together with members of the Board, the Director General and CEO, Dr. Peter Mwethera, and the Institute's senior management team.

During the visit, the Committee toured KIPRE's research laboratories and animal research facilities, where they were briefed on the Institute's ongoing biomedical research programmes as well as KIPRE Products including smugel and smuscan. The Members also witnessed the extraction of venom from the highly venomous black mamba, a critical process in the development of the East African-specific snake antivenom currently being spearheaded by KIPRE.

The Committee commended the Institute for its contribution to advancing biomedical research and innovation in Kenya and reaffirmed the importance of sustained Government support for research institutions in addressing the country's evolving health challenges.