FACT CHECK: Is KEMRI Recruiting 200 Volunteers to Be Deliberately Infected With Malaria for Ksh 48,000?

A photo of Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) .Photo/ KEMRI

A viral social media post claiming that the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) is recruiting 200 volunteers to be deliberately infected with malaria in exchange for Ksh 48,000 has resurfaced online, attracting widespread attention.

According to the post, volunteers would spend 24 days in the hospital on a daily remuneration of Ksh 2,000 for the study period.

However, the claim appears to be based on information from an earlier malaria research study rather than a new recruitment exercise.

A fact-check by hivileo.co.ke has established the claims are false and not from KEMRI official channels.

Fact Check: Is KEMRI Recruiting 200 Volunteers for a Malaria Study?

According to reports, in 2018, researchers planned to screen about 2,000 volunteers and select 200 healthy adults to participate in a Controlled Human Malaria Infection (CHMI) study.

Participants were to be monitored in the hospital for up to 24 days and compensated Ksh 2,000 per night, amounting to a maximum of Ksh 48,000.

This study formed part of the Controlled Human Malaria Infection (CHMI-SIKA) programme, which sought to better understand how some individuals naturally resist malaria infection and to support the development of new vaccines and treatments.

Therefore, under the programme, selected volunteers were deliberately exposed to the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum under controlled medical conditions.

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Researchers monitored participants closely and provided treatment immediately after parasites were detected in their blood.

The study targeted healthy adults who had previously been exposed to malaria and was conducted through the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme in collaboration with institutions including Oxford University, the University of Cambridge, Pwani University, and US biotechnology company Sonaria Inc.

Additionally, research activities were carried out in locations including Kilifi and Ahero, with the programme enrolling more than 100 participants during its implementation period.

Institute on the Recruitment Matching Viral Post

Despite the renewed circulation of the claim, there is currently no public announcement from KEMRI seeking 200 volunteers under the terms described in the viral message or a response from the research institute.

Meanwhile, controlled Human Malaria Infection studies are widely used around the world to accelerate vaccine and drug development.

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Such studies undergo strict ethical review before approval and involve intensive medical monitoring of participants.

Researchers also ensure volunteers are fully informed about the risks and procedures before providing consent.