KEMRI Falls Short Of Covid-19 Test Kits Amid Mass Testing

The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) is currently in dire need of covid-19 test kits even after it promised to roll out mass testing in the country and support the war against the virus.

KEMRI, which is the main testing facility in Kenya had projected to test up to 37,000 samples daily but the agency has only been able to test 700 samples.

Speaking to a Senate Committee on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, KEMRI Director Yeri Kombe admitted that the agency was running out of equipment and reagents and was in dire need of cash to increase the stock.

“The institute has exhausted most of the reagents and materials being utilized in screening and testing for the virus,” said the KEMRI director.

Yeri Kombe said the agency currently needs about 790 million shillings to boost the current stock and scale-up mass testing in the country.

So far KEMRI has tested the highest number of Covid-19 samples in the country. As of April 28, 2020, KEMRI had tested over 6,000 samples.

However, its efforts to scale up mass testing in the country is facing a serious challenge as the institute says it has inadequate funds, few technical staff and other necessary equipment to help in the fight against the Coronavirus.

According to the report tabled before the senate committee, KEMRI needs 540 million shillings to buy reagents and materials needed to conduct testing, screening, and diagnostics and reduce the time taken for delivery of results.

“The institute is planning to procure equipment including freezers, autoclaves, DNA synthesizers, protein synthesizers, Guillotine, Illimuna Sequencer and, HPLC,”

100 million shillings are needed to recruit technical staff whereas an additional 150 million shillings are needed to increase the KEMRI’s capacity for screening, production of kits, and development of a vaccine.

“Various scientists have submitted proposals for Covid-19 research. These proposals are of high impact and will go a long way in helping the country understand the transmission patterns.”