ABSTRACT
Japan is relevant here because of their participation in the historical development of the Institute. I have mentioned in the past a discussion about how KEMRI was formally established and the grants that we got which were purely institutional grants and which were generous donations from the people of Japan through JICA. As well, I have mentioned how we developed the program between KEMRI and JICA. In fact, by the time JICA came to Kenya, we had not fully developed infrastructural or human resources and capacity because we didn’t have sufficient individuals who were qualified enough to attend to human resource development, the scientific development of the Institute, and the financial management. But with the development of infrastructural facilities that were provided to Kenyans through JICA, we were able to develop those capacities and skills. I want to emphasize today that, despite the fact that they are not featured in most of the places, their contribution to KEMRI is enormous. There is no single donor whose contribution has been as significant as JICA to the development of the Institute, and yet at the same time since the moment they developed it, they never claimed ownership. They would ask permission to use the facilities, even though they provided them.
