The government has made a surprising move in the 2025/2026 budget by slashing funds meant for medical research and instead giving more money to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), including KSh 150 million for tracking social media users.
This decision, presented by Treasury CS John Mbadi, has raised serious concern about the future of health research in Kenya. The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), which has played a key role in national health breakthroughs, has been left without any funding for its main research work.
The budget only provided KSh 2.7 billion for salaries and other operational costs, which covers only a small part of the staff and does not support ongoing or new research. This means critical work done by KEMRI may be stopped, and about 1,000 jobs could be lost.
KEMRI has a long history of contributing to Kenya’s health system. It helped identify the first Covid-19 case and continues to develop important medical treatments.
However, this year’s budget ignored these contributions and left the institute without resources to continue its work. Branches in places like Kilifi, Kisumu, and Nairobi are already feeling the pressure, with some pausing ongoing trials and suspending cancer research linked to traditional medicine.
With 80 percent of KEMRI’s past research funding coming from donors, the government’s backing was crucial to maintain operations and staff. Many are now questioning how a country can afford to weaken one of its strongest health institutions.
At the same time, the DCI is receiving an increase in its budget. KSh 150 million has been specifically set aside for tracking social media users. This includes spending on the Optimus 3.0 system and its forensic lab.
The entire police service is getting KSh 127.09 billion, up by KSh 1.8 billion from the previous year. While the government claims this is necessary to maintain national security, critics are calling this a misplaced priority. They argue that investing in surveillance over public health shows poor judgment and a disregard for the real problems facing ordinary Kenyans.
Several public figures and experts have joined in criticizing the government’s decision. One post on social media by Keith Ang’ana pointed out that KEMRI might soon close its doors due to the budget cuts. Gideon Moi also expressed disappointment in the way the government seems more focused on spying on citizens than addressing urgent health issues.
Media reports have warned that the entire health sector is in crisis, with budget cuts totaling over KSh 6 billion across research institutions. Kenya is also dealing with heavy debt and a fiscal deficit, which many believe is being handled in ways that ignore the country’s most pressing needs.
There are fears that the government’s move to boost the DCI’s surveillance capacity might be politically motivated. The KSh 150 million for social media tracking comes at a time when public criticism of the government is rising.
This raises concerns that the money may be used to monitor and silence critics instead of fighting crime. On the other hand, institutions like KEMRI are restricted by law from making money through their own research, making them fully dependent on budget allocations to survive.
Now, they are left to push for a share of money collected by the Social Health Authority, but nothing is guaranteed yet.
This situation highlights a dangerous shift in the government’s focus. Cutting research money while boosting surveillance spending sends a message that silencing critics may be more important than saving lives through health research.
Kenya could lose not just jobs but also vital medical progress if institutions like KEMRI are not supported.
The decision to take away research funds and give them to the DCI has caused anger and frustration among health experts, civil society, and ordinary citizens.
