A Sh380 million malaria research centre that aims to eradicate the disease has been launched in Thika, Kiambu County.

Funded by the Japanese government, the project will be implemented by Mount Kenya University (MKU) in collaboration with Osaka City University, and the Homa Bay County Government.
The project involves the establishment of a cutting-edge molecular and immunology laboratory at MKU Thika and a research station in Homa Bay. It will also embrace research in tropical medicine.

It is also being supported by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and is touted to achieve significant milestones in the fight against malaria.

Speaking during the launch at the MKU main Thika campus, Japanese Ambassador to Kenya Ken Okaniwa said it is regrettable that malaria still remains a top killer disease on the African continent and whose fight continues to drain huge resources.

“With the collaboration of Mount Kenya University, the Government of Kenya and other agencies, the malaria research centre is expected to find a lasting solution to the fight against the disease,” said the envoy.

Reiterating that there is renewed hope in the war against malaria, the ambassador added that one of the key accomplishments of the state-of-the-art facility is to provide advanced research and diagnostics for the disease spread by mosquitoes.

“Researchers and students from MKU and collaborating Japanese universities, such as Osaka City University, will benefit from exchange training programs, enhancing their skills and knowledge in malaria research,” Okaniwa pointed out.

The University Pro-Chancellor Dr Vincent Gaitho said the Centre for Malaria Elimination provides an opportunity for investors to develop medicine and vaccines by working with the research scientists.

“This centre, among others things, will be an incubation for innovative, cutting-edge research while also being a catalyst for collaboration, patents, interdisciplinary learning, and commercialization of human health-related services and products,” he said adding that investors will be encouraged to collaborate with the university researcher to develop drugs.