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ICARS Africa Regional Office Officially Launched in Nairobi
Gerald Kombo
August 27, 2026
NAIROBI, KENYA (August 27, 2026): The International Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Solutions (ICARS) today formally launched its Africa Regional Office in Nairobi, marking a significant step in continental efforts to move antimicrobial resistance (AMR) solutions from paper plans into practical, scalable action.
The launch was held at the Radisson Blu Upper Hill, Nairobi, and brought together government officials, researchers, development partners and One Health practitioners from across Africa and beyond.
Dr Allan Azegele, Director of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, delivered the official launch remarks on behalf of the Government of Kenya.
“Our National Action Plan is aligned with the Africa Union’s Continental Framework for Antimicrobial Resistance, controlled and now being implemented by Africa CDC for the period 2026 to 2030, which is pushing every member state towards stronger country-level implementation rather than plans that exist only on paper.”
He emphasised the value of ICARS’ approach:
“What is particularly valuable about the ICARS approach is its focus on intervention and implementation research. We need to move beyond identifying gaps as decision makers to generating evidence to understand how interventions can actually be implemented, adopted, evaluated and sustained in real-world settings.”
Kenya was positioned as both a contributor and a beneficiary of the new regional platform.
“It is therefore fitting that Nairobi has been chosen as the home of this regional office. Kenya has a long history of collaboration across sectors on One Health and AMR and we welcome the opportunity to strengthen this work through our partnership with ICARS.”
Dr Azegele reaffirmed the Government of Kenya’s commitment:
“The success of this initiative will ultimately not be measured by the number of projects implemented or reports we produce. It will be measured by whether we can achieve more responsible antimicrobial use, stronger surveillance and stewardship systems, healthier animals and communities, and ultimately fewer infections that are resistant to treatment.”
Why It Matters
Antimicrobial resistance remains one of the most serious threats to human, animal and environmental health in Africa. The establishment of a dedicated ICARS regional office in Nairobi is intended to accelerate the shift from policy documents to real-world solutions that are practical, affordable and appropriate for African contexts, under a strong One Health approach.
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