Prof Edwine Barasa began his journey at the KEMRI–Wellcome Research Programme as an assistant research officer in 2009.
Health economist Prof Edwine Barasa has been appointed as the Executive Director of the KEMRI–Wellcome Research Programme (KWRP).
The announcement was first made on October 3, following a competitive recruitment process conducted by the programme’s partners: the University of Oxford, the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), and Wellcome.
They praised Prof Barasa’s leadership during his tenure as
Interim Executive Director since February 2024, saying he had guided the
programme with confidence and purpose.
They also highlighted “the strong endorsement from the external panel, based on his clear vision and ambitious strategic plans.”
The statement added that the partners “agreed unanimously that, with his continued leadership, the Programme is well-positioned to thrive and make meaningful, lasting impacts on global health and well-being.”
Prof Barasa began his journey at the KEMRI–Wellcome Research Programme in 2009 as an assistant research officer, one of the lowest professional ranks in the institution.
His appointment marks a historic milestone, as he now becomes the first African Executive Director of the Programme—“a testament to the programme’s longstanding commitment to nurturing the next generation of African leaders,” the institution said in a statement.
As Executive Director, Prof Barasa will oversee the programme’s mission “to conduct high-quality, relevant research in human health, while building sustainable research capacity and leadership.”
He said: “I am excited about the journey ahead and thank the partners for their trust in me to steward the Programme. My commitment is to strengthen its impact as we continue to build a Programme that delivers outstanding science, shapes policy and practice, develops the next generation of African research leaders, and provides solutions to some of the most pressing health challenges of our time.”
He reaffirmed his confidence in the Programme’s “collaborative, inclusive, and respectful culture,” and pledged continued scientific excellence and global relevance.
A professor of Health Economics at the University of Oxford, Barasa has dedicated much of his career to connecting research and policy to strengthen health systems that are fairer and more effective. He holds a PhD and a master’s degree in Health Economics from the University of Cape Town, and a bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from the University of Nairobi.
His research focuses on health financing, equity and efficiency in healthcare, economic evaluation of health interventions, health systems’ performance, and governance.
Beyond academia, he brings vast experience in national and continental health policy.
He has served as an advisor to the Ministry of Health, contributing to initiatives such as the COVID-19 Vaccine Deployment Taskforce, the National Hospital Insurance Fund Reform Committee, and the Kenya Health Benefits Advisory Panel.
Regionally, he chairs the Africa CDC Health Economics Programme Advisory Board and the Africa Universal Health Coverage Commission. He also provides technical expertise on health financing to international development partners, including the World Bank and the World Health Organisation (WHO), with a focus on reforms across Sub-Saharan Africa.
