NAIROBI, Kenya, October 11th –The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) on Saturday, October 11th announced an ambitious Sh 516 million (approximately USD 4 million) initiative funded by the Gates Foundation, titled “The Leadership for Innovation and Excellence in Accelerating Research on Women’s Health (LEA-WH) Programme.”
The three-year flagship programme is set to commence in January 2026 and is designed to fortify Africa’s research leadership in women’s health by equipping and mentoring a new generation of African scientists, researchers, and innovators.
It’s geared towards creating groundbreaking, locally driven solutions to health challenges that disproportionately affect women.
LEA-WH will also address a significant burden of understudied and underfunded women’s health conditions faced in sub-Saharan Africa.
KEMRI Director General Prof Elijah Songok emphasised that the LEA-WH Programme aims to address these challenges by fostering locally led research, promoting scalable innovations, and implementing evidence-based solutions that cater to Africa’s unique health needs.
This initiative follows the Kenyan Government’s recent declaration of KEMRI as an institution of national strategic importance and its recognition as a regional training hub for high-level expertise in medical research.
“The LEA-WH Programme represents KEMRI’s ongoing commitment to fostering scientific leadership that is inclusive, innovative, and rooted in African expertise,” stated Prof Songok.
“By empowering scientists to spearhead groundbreaking research and innovation, we are not just investing in health but also in the future development of Africa.”
Through this programme, KEMRI envisions establishing a sustainable model for excellence and innovation in women’s health research.
By 2033, the LEA-WH Programme aims to bring 5-10 innovative products to the market for testing, support the formation of 5-10 startup companies, facilitate 5-10 patent applications, enable 20-50 percent of programme scholars to secure research and development grants, and catalyse USD 3-5 million in follow-on funding for innovation and research initiatives.
In addition to these objectives, the programme will create a continental alumni network, establish a sustainable replication model, and promote an innovation policy ecosystem to encourage evidence-based decision-making.
An annual ScienceX Africa Summit will act as a platform for collaboration, mentorship, and knowledge sharing among emerging and established leaders in health innovation.
To implement this Fellowship. Prof Songok mentioned that the programme will collaborate closely with the United States National Academy of Medicine.
“Our vision is to cultivate a vibrant ecosystem where African researchers and innovators can take the lead in designing and executing transformative solutions for women’s health,” said Prof Elizabeth Bukusi, Programme Director of LEA-WH.
“This programme is a pivotal step towards a more equitable and innovative future for women’s health across the continent.
The LEA-WH Programme embodies KEMRI’s broader mission to advance research excellence, promote gender equity in science, and ensure that African-led innovation addresses the continent’s most pressing health challenges.
It marks a significant milestone in establishing KEMRI as a leader in research and capacity building, driving African solutions for African challenges while responding to global health priorities.
The LEA-WH Advisory Council, chaired by Prof Songok, will also provide strategic oversight for the programme and ensure continental representation.
Supporting the Programme Director, are three interconnected departments: Curriculum Development led by Dr Martin Bundi, Research & Development and Technical Training overseen by Prof Nelly Mugo, and Leadership Development spearheaded by Dr Rose Bosire, and all esteemed senior scientists from KEMRI.
