The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) is a state corporation. It was established through the Science andTechnology (Amendment) Act of November, 1979, with themission to conduct health sciences research and generateresearch findings to be applied towards the improvement ofthe health status of the nation.

The motto of the institute "In Search of Better Health" is targeted to the realization of this mission.

The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) was established in1979 under the Science and Technology (amendment) Act of thatyear to represent the national body responsible for carring outhealth science research in Kenya. Prior to the establishment ofKEMRI, health research in Kenya was conducted under theauspices of the East African Medical Research Council which hadbeen established in 1957 to serve the countries of the East AfricanCommunity. Following the break-up of the East AfricanCommunity in 1977, the Kenyan Parliament passed the Scienceand Technology Act of 1977 and amended it in 1979 to provide forthe establishment of research institutes. Under this act, the KenyaMedical Research Institute was charged with the responsibility ofcarrying out health research, and its mandates under the Act isstated as follows:


To cooperate with other organizations and institutions of higherlearning in training programmes and on matters of relevan tresearch;
To liaise with other research bodies within and outside Kenyacarrying out similar research;
To disseminate research findings;
To cooperate with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry, for the timebeing responsible for research, the National Council for Scienceand Technology, and the Medical Science Advisory Committee onmatters pertaining to research policies and priorities
To do all such things