In February 2024, the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KeMRI) announced that it had received funding for the search for an HIV vaccine from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
This five-year funding was meant to assist African researchers in the quest for an HIV vaccine through preliminary trials. However, after US President Donald Trump's executive order imposing a 90-day freeze on all foreign US assistance, KeMRI researchers who had embarked on the search for the vaccine alongside other African scientists have been left in limbo. The quest for a new HIV/AIDS vaccine gained renewed momentum following an award of $45.6 Million (Ksh.6.6 billion) to researchers at KEMRI-Kericho for the advancement and development of an African-led HIV Vaccine Candidate based on the circulating HIV viruses within the continent. During the pronouncement of this milestone, Acting Director General Prof.
Elijah Songok said that the consortium will develop and evaluate HIV vaccine candidates emanating from the African continent. .Keep ReadingKenya explores local funding for health as Trump regime dithers on funding freezeUN decries 'state of confusion' over Trump funding freeze"This award will support African scientists and institutions that design and test HIV vaccine candidates, including KEMRI Kericho scientists to improve and advance the most promising HIV vaccine candidates toward clinical trials, it is also a notable transition towards localized research and development of generating solutions that reflect the diversity of our region," he said. HIV/AIDS is just one of the many research areas that are bound to suffer from the cessation of funding from USAID.
According to data from Funds Beeline, KeMRI received $12.9 million (Sh1.6 billion) from 25 transactions in the fiscal year 2024. However, some critics argue that foreign assistance by the US has always had the purpose of furthering America's interests while "improving" lives in the developing world. Many argue that the "improvement" is not always sustainable and that this is done intentionally to keep Africans begging for aid. During a recent meeting between the Presidential Taskforce on Human Resources for Health and the National Assembly's Committee on Health, taskforce chairperson, Professor Khama Rogo revealed that one of the key issues ailing the Kenyan health sector is the lack of proper data.
