By Issa Hussein - Reporter
Kenya, June 04, 2026 - The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Air Pollution Centre of Excellence (APCE) has attained the prestigious ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation, marking a major milestone in the country's efforts to strengthen air quality monitoring and research.
The accreditation, which is the international standard for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, was awarded for the centre’s gravimetric PM2.5 testing scope, a key method used in measuring fine particulate matter associated with air pollution and adverse health effects.
KEMRI received the accreditation certificate during an official handover ceremony held on Thursday, with the Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS) presenting the award to the institute.
The certificate was handed over by a KENAS delegation led by Lucy Namu and received by Dr. Jane Rahedi Ong’ango on behalf of KEMRI Vice Chancellor and Director-General, alongside APCE Director and CLEAN-Air(Africa) Co-Director Dr. James Mwitari.
KEMRI said the accreditation demonstrates the centre's commitment to maintaining high standards of quality, accuracy and reliability in generating air quality data used to inform public health interventions and policy decisions.
“This accreditation marks a significant step forward in our commitment to quality, accuracy and reliable air quality data in the fight against air pollution,” the institute said in a statement.
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The Air Pollution Centre of Excellence was established through a partnership between KEMRI and the University of Liverpool under the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Global Health Research Unit, CLEAN-Air(Africa).
The achievement is expected to enhance confidence in the centre’s research findings and strengthen Kenya’s capacity to monitor air pollution, a growing public health concern in urban and industrial areas.
Air pollution has been linked to a range of health conditions, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and remains one of the leading environmental risk factors globally.
The accreditation positions KEMRI as a key regional player in air quality research and environmental health, while reinforcing efforts to generate evidence-based solutions to tackle pollution-related health challenges across Africa.