For over three decades, KEMRI-Wellcome has invested in the long-term development of African scientists, creating pathways for local talent to thrive. The story of Dr. Jacob Kazungu exemplifies the value and impact of a long-term horizon to research capacity development. Jacob Kazungu’s journey with KWRP began in 2011 when, fresh out of high school, he was selected as one of just nine students from Kilifi County to participate in our post-secondary school leavers attachment scheme (SLAS) – a key component of KWRP’s school engagement programme. For three months, Jacob was immersed in the diverse world of research, mentored by experienced professionals and exposed to clinical, laboratory, demographic, and social science research. For a student who had never used a computer or met a researcher before, the experience was transformative. “It was the first time I used a computer. I created my first email and Facebook account – and I realised research was more than just lab coats and microscopes,” Kazungu reflects.
That early exposure sparked a lifelong passion. Jacob went on to join Karatina university in Kenya, and by his final year, he was actively seeking opportunities to return to KWRP. Through IDeAL, KWRP’s capacity building platform, Jacob secured a place in the research internship scheme in 2016, completed a research diploma, and published his first scientific paper – a milestone he credits to determined mentorship and guidance. “It took me over four months to write the paper, considering this was my first paper, there were lots of reviews from my supervisor to work on, and just learning how to write,” he reflects.
In 2017, Jacob was appointed an assistant research officer in the KWRP Health Economics Research Unit (HERU) in Nairobi. He quickly excelled – leading data analysis, supporting health financing studies, and engaging with national policy reforms. A year later (2018), he won a Wellcome Master’s Fellowship to study Health Economics at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in the UK. Upon returning, he implemented his fellowship research in collaboration with Kenya’s Ministry of Health, contributing to the development of national health strategies.
Encouraged and mentored by senior researchers Jacob progressed to complete a PhD in Health Economics at the Open University, UK. “I am the first person in my extended family to ever get a PhD,” Jacob reflects. “I could not have done this without the unwavering support and mentorship from senior colleagues at KWRP, particularly Dr. Alun Davies, Prof. Ifedayo Adetifa, Prof. Sam Kinyanjui, and Prof. Edwine Barasa,” says Kazungu.
Now a postdoctoral researcher in health economics at KWRP, Jacob coordinates the Africa Health Economics Study Group (AfHESG), a peer-learning platform that has trained over 4,000 participants across 48 countries. As a post-doctoral research scientist, he is working on multiple research projects funded by Wellcome, NIHR, and CEPI, all focused on advancing health policy and decision-making across Africa. Jacob has aspirations of becoming an independent researcher and mentor. His vision is clear: to support the next generation of African researchers and contribute to evidence-informed health reforms in low- and middle-income countries.
Jacob’s story is one of many – but it powerfully illustrates what is possible when institutions commit to long-term, structured, and intentional capacity development. From a high school attachee to a postdoctoral health economist and leader, Jacob Kazungu embodies the transformative impact of KWRP’s investment in people.