The Kenya Medical Research Institute, commonly known as KEMRI, has announced eight open positions across various departments and research programmes. These are paid, contract-based roles that attract candidates from across East Africa and beyond. If you have a background in health sciences, laboratory work, data management, finance, or project administration, at least one of these positions is likely a strong fit for your profile.
KEMRI is among the most respected public health research institutions in Africa. It operates under the Kenya government and collaborates extensively with international partners including the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Wellcome Trust, and several European funding bodies. Working here means real exposure to global health research, structured salary scales, and access to career development pathways that are difficult to find elsewhere in the region.
Below is a complete breakdown of all eight vacancies, including position titles, department locations, qualification requirements, salary grade information, and the steps to apply correctly before the closing date.
About KEMRI and Why These Roles Matter
KEMRI was established in 1979 under the Science and Technology Act and has since grown into a multi-campus research institution with programmes running in Nairobi, Kisumu, Kilifi, Busia, Msambweni, and other counties across Kenya. The institute employs thousands of scientists, field officers, laboratory technicians, epidemiologists, data analysts, and support staff.
Funding for KEMRI comes from a combination of the Kenyan national budget and international grants. This makes it one of the few public sector employers in Kenya where salary reviews and benefits are structured on a competitive scale. Permanent and pensionable staff enjoy health insurance coverage, a housing allowance, transport allowance, and access to the National Social Security Fund alongside a defined pension scheme.
Contract staff on project-funded roles typically receive gross monthly packages that include a base salary, a medical insurance benefit administered through reputable providers such as Jubilee Health Insurance or AAR Insurance, and annual leave allowances. For individuals planning long-term financial commitments such as mortgage loans, personal loans, or insurance policies, a KEMRI salary letter carries strong weight with most Kenyan banks and microfinance institutions.
Current Open Positions at KEMRI Kenya
1. Research Officer – Clinical Trials Unit
This role sits within KEMRI’s Clinical Trials Unit and supports ongoing vaccine and therapeutic research studies. The successful candidate will be responsible for patient recruitment, informed consent procedures, sample collection, adverse event reporting, and coordination with sponsor monitors during site visits.
Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing, Clinical Medicine, or a related health science field. A valid practice licence from the Nursing Council of Kenya or the Clinical Officers Council is mandatory. Candidates with prior experience working on Good Clinical Practice (GCP)-compliant trials will have a clear advantage. The gross monthly salary for this position falls within KEMRI Job Group KMR 7, which currently ranges between KES 52,000 and KES 70,000 depending on experience.
2. Laboratory Technologist – Molecular Biology
KEMRI’s molecular biology laboratory requires a skilled technologist to support ongoing diagnostics and research involving PCR assays, sequencing, and pathogen characterization. Day-to-day responsibilities include sample processing, quality control, equipment calibration, reagent management, and documentation in compliance with ISO 15189 laboratory standards.
Applicants must hold a Diploma or Degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences and must be registered with the Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists Board (KMLTTB). Those with experience in biosafety level 2 and 3 environments and familiarity with laboratory information management systems will be prioritized. Salary is within KMR 6 to KMR 7, with the gross package ranging from KES 45,000 to KES 65,000 per month.
3. Data Manager – Health Informatics
This is a critical role within a large epidemiological study funded by an international health agency. The Data Manager will oversee the design and maintenance of study databases, manage electronic data capture systems such as REDCap or Open Clinica, supervise data entry staff, run validation checks, generate progress reports, and liaise directly with the principal investigator and the study statistician.
A Bachelor’s degree in Statistics, Computer Science, Health Informatics, or Biostatistics is required. Proficiency in SQL, R, STATA, or Python is considered an essential skill rather than optional. Candidates with experience in large multi-site studies or with prior work on data governance frameworks will stand out. Monthly gross salary ranges between KES 70,000 and KES 95,000 within KMR 8.
4. Finance Officer – Grants Management
Research institutions of KEMRI’s scale receive and manage multi-million-dollar grants from bodies including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, and DFID. The Finance Officer in Grants Management will handle budget tracking, financial reporting to donors, expenditure verification, audit preparation, and compliance with grant-specific procurement rules.
Applicants should hold a Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field, and be at minimum a CPA Part II holder, with CPA-K preferred. Experience with donor-funded project accounting, familiarity with QuickBooks or SAP, and an understanding of international financial reporting standards are all strong assets. The salary for this position is within KMR 8, with a gross monthly package between KES 75,000 and KES 100,000. Individuals in this position often access financial planning tools, investment accounts, and structured savings instruments earlier in their careers given the remuneration level and employment stability.
5. Community Health and Outreach Coordinator
KEMRI’s community-facing programmes require a coordinator who can manage relationships with community health volunteers, local chiefs, ward administrators, and county health departments across study catchment areas. The coordinator will plan and execute community sensitization campaigns, track household visit schedules, oversee data collection in the field, and prepare weekly activity reports for the study team.
A Diploma or Degree in Public Health, Community Development, or Social Sciences is required. Fluency in at least one local language spoken in the study area is strongly preferred. Prior field research experience in a rural or peri-urban Kenyan setting is a significant advantage. The salary falls in KMR 6, ranging from KES 38,000 to KES 55,000 gross monthly.
6. Biostatistician – Epidemiology Department
The Epidemiology Department seeks an experienced biostatistician to support the design and analysis of population health studies. Key responsibilities include sample size calculation, development of statistical analysis plans, conduct of primary and secondary analyses, preparation of data tables for manuscripts, and support for grant proposal preparation.
A Master’s degree in Biostatistics or Epidemiology is the minimum academic requirement. Demonstrable experience with survival analysis, longitudinal data modelling, and software such as STATA, SAS, or R is essential. Candidates who have contributed to peer-reviewed publications will receive additional consideration. Gross monthly salary is within KMR 9, ranging between KES 110,000 and KES 145,000. At this income level, candidates typically begin engaging with structured financial products including term life insurance, education savings plans, and unit trust investments.
7. Procurement Officer
KEMRI’s procurement function manages the sourcing and supply chain for laboratory consumables, research equipment, vehicles, IT infrastructure, and professional services across all campuses. The Procurement Officer will prepare tender documents, evaluate bids, maintain the supplier register, process purchase orders, and ensure compliance with the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act of Kenya.
A Bachelor’s degree in Procurement and Supply Chain Management is required, along with full membership of the Kenya Institute of Supplies Management (KISM). Candidates with experience managing procurement in a donor-funded environment will be preferred. The gross monthly salary sits within KMR 7 to KMR 8, ranging from KES 55,000 to KES 80,000 depending on years of relevant experience.
8. ICT Support Technician
KEMRI’s growing digital infrastructure across its research sites requires a hands-on ICT technician for hardware troubleshooting, software installation, network support, server room management, and user support for research staff. The technician will also support the institute’s data security protocols and assist with the maintenance of electronic data capture devices used in field research.
Applicants must hold a Diploma or Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field. Certifications such as CompTIA A+, Cisco CCNA, or Microsoft Certified Associate are valued but not mandatory. Prior experience supporting an organization with multiple sites or remote offices will be an advantage. Gross monthly salary is within KMR 6, ranging between KES 40,000 and KES 58,000.
General Requirements Across All Positions
Beyond the role-specific requirements listed above, KEMRI has a set of standard conditions that apply to all eight positions. Every applicant must be a Kenyan citizen or hold a valid work permit for Kenya. All candidates must attach a valid National Identity Card or passport copy to their application.
Academic certificates and professional licences must be attached in full. KEMRI has experienced a rise in fraudulent academic credentials in recent application cycles, and all educational documents are verified through the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) and relevant universities before any offer is made. Any discrepancy in submitted documents leads to immediate disqualification and potential blacklisting from future KEMRI recruitment.
Applicants are also required to attach a current Certificate of Good Conduct from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). This certificate must not be older than 12 months at the time of application. Candidates for finance, grants management, and procurement roles are additionally required to submit a valid Tax Compliance Certificate from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
Salary Structure and Employee Benefits
KEMRI follows a structured salary grading system known as the KMR scale, which runs from KMR 1 at entry level to KMR 15 for senior leadership. The eight positions currently advertised fall between KMR 6 and KMR 9, which represents the technical and professional middle tier of the institute’s employment structure.
In addition to gross monthly salaries, confirmed staff members receive a medical insurance benefit that covers the employee, a spouse, and up to three dependent children. The insurance is administered through a panel of approved insurers and typically provides inpatient cover of KES 500,000 to KES 1,000,000 per year depending on grade, alongside outpatient cover for primary care visits, dental, and optical.
Contract employees on externally-funded project roles receive a slightly different benefits package. While the base pay is competitive and often higher than equivalent civil service grades, they do not automatically qualify for the pension scheme. However, many project staff choose to open personal pension accounts through schemes such as the Retirement Benefits Authority-registered individual plans or employer-negotiated group schemes with providers like ICEA LION or Jubilee Life Insurance.
Staff at the biostatistician and finance officer levels, who earn gross packages above KES 100,000 per month, frequently benefit from preferential banking services offered by institutions such as KCB, Equity Bank, and Cooperative Bank of Kenya. These include salary advance products, asset financing for vehicles, and mortgage pre-approval processes. KEMRI’s HR department has formal banking relationships with several of these institutions that facilitate faster loan processing for staff.
How to Apply for KEMRI Vacancies
All applications for the eight advertised positions must be submitted online through the official KEMRI e-recruitment portal. The institute no longer accepts physical applications delivered to its offices or applications sent by post. Walk-in applications and applications submitted via email to individual staff members will not be considered.
To apply, visit the KEMRI official website and navigate to the Careers section. Create an account on the recruitment portal using a valid and active email address. Complete your online profile, upload your CV in PDF format, and attach all required supporting documents. The portal will prompt you to answer a set of screening questions specific to the role you are applying for. These must be completed in full before the system allows submission.
Each applicant should apply for only one position. Submitting duplicate applications for multiple positions using the same profile will result in all applications being flagged and disqualified. If you are genuinely qualified for more than one role, read the position descriptions carefully and apply for the one that best aligns with your strongest skills and experience.
The application deadline for all eight positions is clearly stated in the official KEMRI recruitment notice published on the institute’s website and in the Daily Nation newspaper. Late applications will not be accepted, and the system closes automatically at midnight on the stated deadline date. Applicants are strongly advised to complete and submit their applications at least 48 hours before the closing date to avoid last-minute portal congestion.
Selection Process and Interview Timeline
Following the application deadline, the KEMRI Human Resources department conducts an initial screening of all submitted applications against the minimum qualifications for each role. Candidates who do not meet the stated minimum academic and professional requirements are excluded at this stage without further communication.
Shortlisted candidates are contacted by email and phone. The selection process typically involves one or two rounds of structured panel interviews, which may include a written technical test for roles in statistics, data management, laboratory sciences, and finance. For laboratory and field-based positions, there may also be a practical skills demonstration.
KEMRI does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process. If you receive any communication requesting payment to secure a job, confirm an interview, or process a work contract at KEMRI, treat it as fraudulent and report it directly to KEMRI’s Human Resources or the DCI. Employment scams targeting KEMRI applicants have been reported before, and the institute takes this matter seriously.
Successful candidates are expected to undergo a medical examination before the formal offer letter is issued. This examination is conducted at a KEMRI-affiliated facility and covers standard pre-employment health screening. The cost of this examination is borne by the institute for candidates who have been offered positions.
Tips to Strengthen Your KEMRI Application
Given the competitive nature of these roles, a generic CV will rarely succeed. Tailor your application to reflect the specific requirements of the position you are targeting. For research roles, highlight your experience with study protocols, ethics submissions, and regulatory compliance. For data and finance roles, quantify your achievements wherever possible — state the size of the grants you managed, the number of variables in databases you maintained, or the percentage accuracy improvements your quality control work achieved.
Professional referees matter significantly at KEMRI. Choose referees who can speak directly to your technical competence rather than your general character. A supervisor from a previous research project, a principal investigator you worked under, or a finance manager who can confirm your grant accounting experience will be far more valuable than a personal reference.
If you hold professional certifications or licences, make sure they are current. An expired KMLTTB licence or a lapsed CPA membership will disqualify you at the verification stage even if your application is otherwise strong. Renew any outstanding professional memberships before you apply.
Finally, follow KEMRI’s official social media channels and website for updates on interview schedules, shortlist publications, and any changes to the closing dates. The institute communicates all official recruitment updates through these channels and does not rely on third-party job boards for announcements.
Final Thoughts
KEMRI’s eight open vacancies cover a wide range of professional disciplines, and the compensation packages are genuinely competitive relative to the Kenyan public and private health sectors. Whether you are a laboratory scientist looking to build a research career, a data professional seeking your first role in global health, or a finance specialist interested in working within a grant-funded environment, these positions offer meaningful work, structured benefits, and real career progression.
The application window is open now. Review the specific requirements for the role that fits your background, gather your documents, and submit a complete, honest application before the deadline. This is an opportunity worth taking seriously.
