Kenya to benefit from platform to identify Covid variants

Kenya will benefit from platform to identify new COVID variants as part of tie-up between KEMRI and Public Health England (PHE).

The Platform aims to support countries effectively identify, assess and track new SARS-CoV-2 variants among their population, to fight COVID-19 and future pandemics.

Kenya will receive genomic sequencing support through the UK’s New Variant Assessment Platform Programme (NVAP), as part of our Kenya-UK Health Partnership.

The Platform will allow the UK’s unique sequencing and variant assessment capabilities to support Kenya’s response to COVID-19, strengthening global health security.

The support includes reagents and equipment to increase in-country sequencing, technical advice, bioinformatics support, and training. The partnership will be between Kenya’s KEMRI and the UK’s Public Health England.

It builds on the Health Partnership signed by Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Cabinet Secretary for Health Mutahi Kagwe, during the former’s visit this January. Our partnership on COVID-19 has already been exceptional strong, with Kenyan and British scientists collaborating on the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, through the 30-year tie-up between Oxford University and KEMRI.

Cabinet Secretary for Health, Mutahi Kagwe lauded the partnership and said, “I am delighted to be able to take the Kenya-UK Health Partnership to the next level. The contribution and support from the UK on genomic sequencing will assist in the response to the current pandemic and will help us fight future pandemics together. Through KEMRI and Oxford University, we have a 30-year health partnership which continues to grow from strength to strength as we continuously expand our scope of co-operation in the health sector.”