Ministry of Health headquarters at Afya House/FILEThe Ministry of Health has directed the Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI) to strip its Deputy Director for Laboratory Services, Leonard Kingwara, of his roles.
In a letter dated January 19, 2026, MoH explained that Kingwara is not registered with the Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists Board (KMLTTB).
The letter instructed acting KNPHI Director to immediately bar Kingwara from undertaking any functions related to laboratory services.
The letter was also copied to Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.
According to the ministry, Kingwara is not authorised to practice within KNPHI’s laboratory services unit because he lacks the mandatory registration and licensing required under the law.
“Mr Leonard Kingwara is not registered or licensed with the Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists Board within the meaning of sections 2, 19, and 20 of Cap 253A,” the letter stated.
The ministry warned that the engagement of unlicensed individuals in activities that constitute medical laboratory practice exposes institutions and the public to serious regulatory, clinical, and medico-legal risks.
“Leonard Kingwara shall not engage, directly or indirectly, in any activity constituting medical laboratory practice, including laboratory supervision, coordination, validation, forensic analysis, diagnostic testing or professional representation,” the letter reads..
The directive has raised questions within the health sector, with concerns emerging over why some officials have been allowed to serve in similar positions for extended periods without being registered with the statutory professional body.
Critics argue that inconsistent enforcement of licensing requirements could undermine confidence in public health institutions.
Kingwara is a long-serving public officer with 16 years of cumulative experience in public service, including a decade at the Ministry of Health.
He holds a Master’s degree and a PhD in Molecular Science, credentials that supporters say reflect strong academic and technical training, even as regulators insist that professional licensing remains a legal requirement.
Contacted, Kingwara confirmed he has received instructions to stay away from the role.
“I received all communication via social media,” he told the Star.
The controversy comes at a delicate moment for KNPHI, a newly established institution expected to play a central role in safeguarding the country against public health threats.
The institute is also set to receive substantial funding from the Ministry of Health’s development partners to support various health programmes across the country.
Some of the ministry’s key partners include the Global Fund, the World Bank, the United States State Department, and the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF), all of whom support critical health initiatives ranging from disease surveillance to health system strengthening.
KNPHI was officially launched on May 8, 2025, during a colourful ceremony held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) that brought together local and regional stakeholders in the health sector.
Speaking during the launch, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the establishment of KNPHI marked a major milestone in Kenya’s pursuit of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the strengthening of national and regional health security.
KNPHI is designed to serve as the country’s central platform for disease surveillance, public health research, policy coordination, and rapid emergency response.
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