MOMBASA County—Jan 21, 2026—Kenya has officially launched the National Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Alliance, a new initiative aimed at curbing the rising threat of drug-resistant infections that claim hundreds of thousands of lives across Africa each year.
The Alliance was unveiled at the inaugural Kenya National AMR Conference 2026, hosted by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI) in Mombasa.
The event brought together health experts, policymakers, researchers, and international partners, including the Gates Foundation, Wellcome, the Fleming Fund, and the European Union.
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites evolve to resist treatments such as antibiotics, rendering common infections increasingly difficult or impossible to treat. According to 2019 data, over 250,000 Africans die annually from infections linked to AMR.
Experts blame misuse and overuse of antibiotics for the rapid rise of resistance, which is now a leading cause of death in the region.
KEMRI Board of Directors Chairperson, Dr. Abdullahi Ibrahim, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “We must act now to prevent a future where common infections can no longer be treated. Multisectoral collaboration and local solutions are critical to tackling AMR in Kenya.”
Kenya has developed a National Action Plan aligned with global and African frameworks to strengthen AMR surveillance, stewardship, and public awareness. However, officials acknowledge gaps remain in laboratory capacity, data sharing, and cross-sector coordination.
The AMR Alliance aims to address these challenges by sharing best practices, identifying gaps in diagnostics and data, mobilising funding, and establishing a national AMR scorecard to track progress and ensure sustained action.
