Dr. Davy Kiprotich Koech OGW MBS
Born in 1951, he was well known for founding the Kenya
Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) in 1979. Dr. Koechpioneered many innovative
research projects in the country which included the search for a HIV/AIDS cure.He
has also served as the Chief Research Officer and Director of KEMRI.
In 1974, he earned his BSc (Chemistry & Zoology) from
the University of Nairobi and MS (Clinical Pharmacology) from the Duquesne
University, Pittsburgh (USA) in 1977. He also holds a Ph.D. (Medical Pathology,
Immunology) from the University of Nairobi, Doctor of Science (DSc) from Moi
University, and Cultural Doctorate (CuD) in Therapeutic Philosophy from the
World University, USA in 1988.
He is also a Chartered Biologist (CBiol), a member of
(MBiol), a fellow of the Institute of Biology (FBiol) of the UK and a Fellow of
the Institute of Biology (FInstPM) of Great Britain.He is a visiting professor
of Immunology and Molecular Medicine since 1989 to numerous universities.
Positions he has held:
1981-84, Head of the Division of Vector-Borne Diseases in
the Ministry of Health.
1990-95, Vice-Chairman of the Commission for Higher
Education
1995-2003, Chairman
of the Commission for Higher Education
1993-2003, Vice-Chairman of Council of the Jomo Kenyatta
University of Agriculture and Technology
He is credited with being the chairperson of the Commission
of Inquiry into the Education System of Kenya, which came up with the ‘Totally
Integrated Quality Education and Training (TIQET)’ report. He is also a founder
member of the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), a National
Chancellor for Kenya representing the International Association for Educators
for World Peace and in the International Who is Who in Medicine, International
Biographical Centre (IBC), England.
He is the Editor-in-Chief of the African Journal of Health
Science and has authored 161 journal publications in many medical fields
including AIDS, Schistomiasis, Malaria, and other diseases.
He served as the chairman of the Pan-African
Parliamentarians’ Network on climate change, in his time in Parliament.
However, on his downside he was charged for fraud in which
KEMRI lost more than Ksh 19.3 million as its director.
Honours to his name:
In 1984, he received the Presidential Award (State
Investiture) of Decoration of the Silver Star of Kenya (S.S).
In 1986, Distinguished Leadership Award
In 1987, Commemorative Medal of Honor by the American
Biographical Institute (ABI)
In 1989, he received the Presidential Award (State
Investiture) of Decoration of the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) of Kenya.
In 1998, the World Lifetime Achievement Award and Millennium
Medal of Honor (2000) both by the ABI
In 1998, the President honoured him with a Moran of the
Order of the Burning Spear (MBS).
In 2006, he was nominated for 2006 Genius Laureate and of
the American Biographical Institute and his name will be among the 500 Greatest
Geniuses of 21st Century.
He is also a recipient of a Gold Medal from the Foundation
for Excellence in Business Practice.
Under his stewardship KEMRI received the Kenya Institute of
Management’s Company of the Year Awards (COYA) for 5 consecutive years
(2001-06) and parastatal of the Year Award from 2003 to 2007.
In 2007, he was the recipient of the COYA’s CEO of the Year.
Source: kemri.org
Dr. Davy Koech never founded KEMRI. This claim is one of his many frauds just to earn him some dubious fame. Doech was a Director of the Divison of Vector Borne Diseases (DVBD) at the Public Health Laboratories, Nairobi. The Founders of KEMRI were Drs. Peter Tukei (Virus Research), Dr. Aluoch (TB Research), Dr. Wegesa (malaria Research), Dr. Njogu (Trypanosomiasis Research) and Mr. Noah Okulo as its first Administrative Chief. These were all former East African Medical Research Council Employuees. During KEMRi's founding Koech was still at the DVBD and did not even know where the idea of KEMRI came from and who coined the term KEMRI. HE is a liar and a fraudster as time has proofed him to be.But con men and fraudsters are always like that. They talk their ways into fame on other people's backs albeit short lived.
ReplyDeleteMr. Elijah Ombongi Ombaso was a staff member of KEMRI during the tenure of Prof. Koech. He had requested to travel to the UK for further studies. He was granted leave of absence, but his pay was discontinued on account of of his failure to account for his academic progress as demanded by the regulations. His whereabouts have since been unknown. His bitterness has nothing to do with the establishment of KEMRI. It well known for a fact that Prof. Davy Koech was a founder member of KEMRI. It is a published record and everyone is fully aware of that. It is unfortunate that Mr Ombongi's frustrations wherever he is are being vented on the wrong person. He should have been grateful for the opportunities he received while working in KEMRI.
DeleteI respect Dr. Davy Koech because of who he is. He has accomplished more than what he is said to have done. With the respect that some of us have, I think it is unfair for Ombaso to share his views this way. He seems very bitter. We know a parastatal can never be started by one man, but what we know is that someone has to play some role for it to be where it is.
ReplyDeleteOmbaso is bitter, why did the so called 'founders' never appear and claim that they were founders? Prof .Koech has contributed a lot and that is why he was able to survive in teo consecutive regimes as the CEO. Look at where KEMRI is right now and digest it.
ReplyDeleteDr. Koech fraudulently claimed to have developed a 'cure' for HIV/AIDS. He fooled Moi into supporting it and others. It was later proven to be less effective than a placebo! He should be struck off the medical register.
ReplyDeleteStrange you should say so. Did you know no ARV or any other drug existed before KEMRON. It this drug that was peer reviewed rejected the voila everyone has tech.
DeleteHere is a story that could make a movie.
Edwin Oiko Nyarunda when HIV AIDS was discovered it was like Corona in Covid 19. No cure and it killed in 2 months. So there were struggles to find a cure in 1980s. The initial treatment like now was prevention so Abstinence and Condoms, family members were asked to be faithful. Identifying the people with it was difficult and doctors begun with Identifying the CD 4 count. The first people to discover how to sustain the count and even increase it was KEMRI a Level 5 research institution for infectious diseases owned by Kenya and funded by the UN WHO.
The director of this institution was Dr. Davy Koech. Many of the researchers just like those on Ampath were both Kenyan and international Doctorate students and researchers with grants studying tropical diseases. So when they found their success it coincided with Nyayo Pioneer and Hon. Kibaki was the Minister for health. Kenya quickly announced the find. Then everyone started having alternatives and controversy as it was peer reviewed just like political debate. For instance do you remember Kemri was involved in Covid vacine. Did you notice when one is found everyone says me too. The answer belongs to the most credited and well spoken that is what Happened. Kemron was then challenged in court just like Tesla. Reputations damaged and a systematic clean up of international scale like that against cold fusion and magnetic energy.
Davy Koech was scandalised he was awarded and found himself safe in the only place he could not be touched. Sadly Korokoroni.
I wish Prof. Davy Koech the best in his endeavors. I can see bitter failures discrediting him but let's give the devil his due.
ReplyDeletebitter for nothing
ReplyDelete