PS Shaukat Abdulrazak Applauds KIPRE’s Groundbreaking Research, Backs East Africa’s First Snake Antivenom

The Kenya Institute of Primate Research (KIPRE) on Tuesday hosted the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Science, Research and Innovation, Prof. Shaukat Abdulrazak, for a familiarization visit and high-level engagement on the Institute’s research agenda.

During the visit, Prof. Abdulrazak lauded KIPRE for its cutting-edge biomedical research and its growing contribution to advancing scientific innovation in Kenya. He commended the Institute’s role in addressing national and regional health challenges through evidence-based research and emphasized the urgent need for increased investment in science, research and innovation to drive sustainable development.

KIPRE Chief Executive Officer Dr. Peter Mwethera welcomed the Principal Secretary and highlighted the critical role of research in improving public health and accelerating national development. He outlined the Institute’s ongoing efforts to develop innovative health solutions, including the planned launch of the first East African-specific snake antivenom, a landmark breakthrough expected to transform the management of snakebite envenoming across the region.

As part of the visit, Prof. Abdulrazak toured KIPRE’s state-of-the-art research laboratories, where he witnessed the Institute’s highly skilled scientists safely extracting venom from live snakes. He was briefed on how the venom is carefully collected and processed as a vital raw material in developing the region-specific antivenom. The Principal Secretary praised the expertise and dedication of KIPRE’s scientists, describing the initiative as a significant milestone in strengthening East Africa’s capacity to combat snakebite envenoming through locally developed solutions.

Dr. Mwethera also showcased KIPRE’s diverse research portfolio, which spans malaria research, the One Health approach integrating human, animal and environmental health, and cancer research aimed at improving prevention, diagnosis and treatment outcomes.

KIPRE reaffirmed its commitment to conducting world-class biomedical research, fostering scientific innovation and developing transformative technologies that improve the health and well-being of Kenyans, the region and the global community.