Policy Influence & Evidence

Evidence That Reaches the
People Who Make
Health Decisions

KEMRI's research does not end with publication. It ends when it changes a guideline, shapes a budget, or informs a decision that affects the health of Kenyans. This is the infrastructure that makes that translation happen — policy briefs, advisory relationships, and documented evidence-to-decision pathways.

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50+

Policy Briefs Published

Health Policy Domains Covered

Advisory Engagement Response Time

Policy Influence

How KEMRI's Research Shapes Health Decisions

KEMRI exists to generate scientific evidence — but evidence that stays in journals does not improve health outcomes. The most consequential dimension of KEMRI's work is the deliberate, structured translation of research findings into the policy briefs, advisory relationships, and formal guidance that Kenya's health decision-makers actually use.

This page documents that translation infrastructure — the policy brief library that converts research into decision-ready evidence, the case studies that trace specific research-to-policy pathways, and the advisory relationships that give KEMRI's scientific voice a permanent seat at Kenya's health policy table.

50+

Policy Briefs Published

Spanning COVID-19, genomic surveillance, malaria, cancer, UHC, antimicrobial resistance, and health financing — translating KEMRI research into evidence Kenya's decision-makers can act on.

Policy Brief Library

Evidence for Health Decision-Makers

Filter KEMRI's policy brief library by health domain to find evidence relevant to your decision context.

UHC & Health Financing

Universal Health Coverage in Kenya: Evidence-Based Recommendations for Equitable NHIF Expansion

Five years of health financing research across all 47 counties, providing specific recommendations for reaching Kenya's lowest-income populations.

2024Access Brief →

Surveillance & Outbreak Response

Genomic Surveillance Capacity in Kenya: A Framework for Continued Investment

Documents the public health value of KEMRI's genomic surveillance infrastructure and provides recommendations for sustained government investment.

2024Access Brief →

Non-Communicable Disease

Cancer Incidence Projections for Kenya, 2024–2030: Implications for Control Strategy

Multi-county cancer registry data and incidence projections that informed Kenya's National Cancer Control Strategy 2023–2027.

2023Access Brief →

Infectious Disease

Malaria Treatment Resistance Patterns in Western Kenya: Clinical Implications

Surveillance data on emerging antimalarial resistance patterns, informing updates to Kenya's national malaria treatment guidelines.

2023Access Brief →

Surveillance & Outbreak Response

COVID-19 Variant Surveillance in Kenya: Lessons for Future Pandemic Preparedness

A retrospective analysis of Kenya's COVID-19 genomic surveillance response, with recommendations for institutionalising pandemic preparedness capacity.

2023Access Brief →

Non-Communicable Disease

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Urban Kenyan Adults: A Surveillance Update

Findings from KEMRI's NCD risk factor surveillance programme, informing primary prevention policy for Kenya's growing urban population.

2022Access Brief →

Policy Case Studies

Documented Research-to-Decision Pathways

These case studies trace the specific path from KEMRI research finding to government policy decision — evidence, not assertion, of policy influence.

Non-Communicable Diseases · National Policy

Cancer Epidemiology Research Informs Kenya's National Cancer Control Strategy 2023–2027

KEMRI's five-year multi-county cancer registry expansion provided the epidemiological evidence base that the Ministry of Health required to update Kenya's National Cancer Control Strategy, directly shaping investment prioritisation.

Registry Data→ Analysis→ Policy Brief→ Strategy Adoption

Cancer incidence projections cited directly in Kenya's National Cancer Control Strategy 2023–2027.

Health Systems · Universal Health Coverage

Health Financing Research Shapes NHIF Expansion Design for Low-Income Counties

A five-year evaluation of NHIF coverage equity across Kenya's 47 counties documented significant rural coverage gaps, with KEMRI's policy brief providing evidence-based recommendations for targeted expansion.

Equity Research→ County Analysis→ MoH Advisory

Findings incorporated into Kenya's UHC implementation planning, informing differentiated NHIF premium structures.

Genomic Surveillance · Continental Health Security

Genomic Data Informs Africa CDC's Continental Pandemic Preparedness Framework

KEMRI's pathogen genomic surveillance data contributed to Africa CDC's continental genomic intelligence network, directly informing the design of the Pathogen Genomics Initiative.

Surveillance→ Data Contribution→ Framework Design

KEMRI's model adopted as the reference framework across 11 African member states.

Infectious Disease · Treatment Guidelines

Malaria Resistance Surveillance Updates National Treatment Protocols

KEMRI's longitudinal resistance monitoring in western Kenya detected emerging artemisinin resistance patterns, triggering a rapid policy brief to the Ministry of Health's malaria treatment guidelines committee.

Cohort Monitoring→ Resistance Detection→ Guideline Update

Findings contributed to Kenya's revised national malaria treatment guidelines.

Health Intelligence

Current Research-Informed Health Updates

Time-sensitive scientific intelligence relevant to Kenya's current health policy environment.

Jun

Updated Respiratory Pathogen Surveillance Data Released to County Health Departments

KEMRI's Centre for Virus Research has distributed updated genomic surveillance findings to all 47 county health departments, supporting localised respiratory illness response planning.

May

New Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Findings Submitted to Ministry of Health

KEMRI's national AMR surveillance programme has identified emerging resistance patterns in three priority pathogens, with full findings submitted for ministry review.

Mar

Seasonal Disease Forecast Briefing Delivered to National Emergency Response Committee

KEMRI's epidemiological forecasting team presented seasonal disease risk projections, informing pre-positioning of response resources ahead of the rainy season.

Advisory Engagement

Formal Advisory Pathways for Government Bodies

Beyond published policy briefs, KEMRI maintains formal and informal advisory relationships with government bodies seeking direct scientific consultation. These relationships range from standing technical advisory roles to commissioned research addressing specific policy questions.

Ministry-Level AdvisoryStanding technical advisory relationships with national Ministry of Health departments

County Government ConsultationDirect advisory engagement with county health departments on local health priorities

International Body EngagementWHO Collaborating Centre status and Africa CDC advisory relationships

Commissioned ResearchGovernment-commissioned studies addressing specific, time-bound policy questions

Current Advisory Relationships

Kenya Ministry of Health

Standing technical advisory

World Health Organisation

WHO Collaborating Centre

Africa CDC

Continental surveillance partner

Nairobi County Government

Embedded research MoU

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For Decision-Makers

Need Evidence for a Specific Health Policy Question?

KEMRI's policy team can connect you with the relevant research evidence, existing policy briefs, or commission targeted analysis to support your decision-making process.

Contact the Policy Team Browse All Publications

Evidence That Reaches thePeople Who MakeHealth Decisions

How KEMRI's Research Shapes Health Decisions

Evidence for Health Decision-Makers

Documented Research-to-Decision Pathways

Cancer Epidemiology Research Informs Kenya's National Cancer Control Strategy 2023–2027

Health Financing Research Shapes NHIF Expansion Design for Low-Income Counties

Genomic Data Informs Africa CDC's Continental Pandemic Preparedness Framework

Malaria Resistance Surveillance Updates National Treatment Protocols

Current Research-Informed Health Updates

Formal Advisory Pathways for Government Bodies

Need Evidence for a Specific Health Policy Question?

Evidence That Reaches the
People Who Make
Health Decisions