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Research institutes headquartered in Kenya

Tamtam tracks 28 research institutes headquartered in Kenya. This list ranks all of them by number of employees on LinkedIn, led by Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenyatta National Hospital. and Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). Their median headcount is 693. Half of them were founded in 1995 or later. The most common headquarters are Nairobi (17).

馃嚢馃嚜 Kenya28 companiesUpdated Nov 12, 2026

The research institutes in Kenya listed here are primarily large organizations in higher education and research services, with a strong presence in healthcare and agriculture. Notable examples include Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), driving advancements in higher education, and the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), focused on health research. Kenyatta National Hospital is a major national referral and teaching hospital, while the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) conducts research to improve food security.

Most of these institutions are located in Nairobi, indicating a concentration of research activities in the capital. The founding dates range from 1910 for the National Museums of Kenya to 2013 for the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), showing a mix of well-established and more recently founded entities.

#CompanyIndustryHeadquarters EmployeesFounded
1
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT)jkuat.ac.ke

Driving advancements in higher education, research, and innovation across Africa for the past 20 years

Higher Education 馃嚢馃嚜 Nairobi 4,457 1981
2
Kenyatta National Hospital.knh.or.ke

A leading national referral and teaching hospital in Kenya with a rich history, a wide range of medical services, and partnerships with educational institutions and research agencies

Hospitals and Health Care 馃嚢馃嚜 Nairobi 4,242 1987
3
Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)kemri.go.ke

A national research body in Kenya focused on health research, established to conduct scientific studies and promote innovation in the healthcare sector

Research Services 馃嚢馃嚜 Nairobi 3,645 1979
4
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)ilri.org

An organization conducting research on livestock to improve food security and alleviate poverty in developing countries through global partnerships

Research Services 馃嚢馃嚜 Nairobi 1,466 1995
5
KEMRI - Wellcome Trustkemri-wellcome.org

The company conducts research on malaria and infectious diseases, focusing on basic, epidemiological, and clinical studies to inform health policy

Research Services 馃嚢馃嚜 Kilifi 1,407 1989
6
The Technical University of Kenyatukenya.ac.ke

A leading technical university in Kenya, offering diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate degrees to students in a variety of fields

Higher Education 馃嚢馃嚜 Nairobi 1,279 1961
7
Egerton Universityegerton.ac.ke

A educational institution providing academic programs and resources for students to further their learning and knowledge in various fields

Higher Education 馃嚢馃嚜 Nakuru 1,278 1939
8
Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO)kalro.org

A research institute under KALRO focusing on livestock diseases, vaccines, One Health, zoonoses, public health, and AMR among other subjects

Research Services 馃嚢馃嚜 Nairobi 1,102 2013
9
LVCT HEALTHlvcthealth.org

Kenyan NGO providing integrated HIV services, SGBV programming, research, training, and capacity building to reduce HIV infections and promote community health

Non-profit Organizations 馃嚢馃嚜 Nairobi 963 2001
10
ICIPE - International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecologyicipe.org

icipe conducts research on insect physiology and ecology to develop eco-friendly pest management strategies and improve health and agriculture in Africa

Research Services 馃嚢馃嚜 Nairobi 943 1970
11
Landscape Alliance | CIFOR & ICRAFcifor-icraf.org

A leading organization with over 75 years of experience in using trees and agroforestry to tackle global challenges such as climate change and food security

Research Services 馃嚢馃嚜 Nairobi 772 n/a
12
CDC/KEMRIgalotop1.com

A prominent collaboration in Kenya conducting public health research, focusing on malaria prevention, treatment, and control with significant growth over 30 years

Research Services 馃嚢馃嚜 Kisumu 767 1979
13
AMPATH Kenyaampathkenya.org

The organization partners with academic health centers and ministries of health to improve healthcare, reduce disparities, build capacity, conduct research, and strengthen institutions in underserved communities in Kenya

Hospitals and Health Care 馃嚢馃嚜 Eldoret 742 2001
14
National Museums of Kenyamuseums.or.ke

A network of 22 museums, 9 sites & monuments, 8 World Heritage Sites, and 7 research/exhibition labs showcasing diverse cultural and historical collections

Museums 馃嚢馃嚜 Nairobi 693 1910

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15
University of Embuembuni.ac.ke

The company aims to advance higher education and research opportunities while playing a leading role in development and expansion

Higher Education 馃嚢馃嚜 Embu 690 1947
16
World Agroforestrycifor-icraf.org

A global research institution focused on harnessing the benefits of trees for sustainable agriculture, livelihoods, and environmental conservation across developing tropics

Research Services 馃嚢馃嚜 Nairobi 596 1978
17
Maasai Mara Universitymmarau.ac.ke

A leading research university offering programs in natural resources, tourism, hospitality management, science, agriculture, and setting up various strategic projects

Higher Education 馃嚢馃嚜 Narok 595 2008
18
National Museums of Kenyaor.ke

A multi-disciplinary institution dedicated to preserving and presenting Kenya's cultural and natural heritage for knowledge, appreciation, and sustainable utilization

Museums & Institutions 馃嚢馃嚜 Nairobi 572 n/a
19
African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)aphrc.org

An Africa-based research institution in Kenya focusing on population, health, education, and urbanization issues while developing African scholars and advocating for policy change

Research Services 馃嚢馃嚜 Nairobi 568 2001
20
Karatina Universitykaru.ac.ke

A chartered public university offering a wide range of courses in various fields, emphasizing knowledge dissemination, research, innovation, and community outreach

Higher Education 馃嚢馃嚜 Karatina 565 2008
21
Busitema Universitybusitema.ac.ug

Busitema University in Eastern Uganda offers a range of degree programs across six faculties, including Health Sciences, Engineering, and Agriculture

Higher Education 馃嚢馃嚜 Busitema 553 2007
22
Kisii Universitykisiiuniversity.ac.ke

A leading public institution in South-Western Kenya, Kisii University aims to provide high-quality education, research, and consultancy services while promoting societal welfare

Education Administration Programs 馃嚢馃嚜 Kisii 526 2013
23
Kenya Forestry Research Institutekefri.org

A state agency in Kenya, KEFRI leads in addressing forestry and environmental challenges through research and innovative solutions

Research Services 馃嚢馃嚜 Kiambu 475 1986
24
Murang'a University of Technologymut.ac.ke

An educational institution focused on providing technology-related programs and opportunities in Murang'a, working towards empowering students for future success

Higher Education 馃嚢馃嚜 Murang'a 468 2011
25
Busarabusara.global

A nonprofit organization in Nairobi using social science to address development challenges through research, advisory services, and collaborations worldwide

Research Services 馃嚢馃嚜 Nairobi 426 2012
26
KIRDIgo.ke

This national research institution conducts research, innovation, and development in various industrial and allied technologies, advises the government, and collaborates for technology advancement

Research Services 馃嚢馃嚜 Nairobi 332 n/a
27
KIPPRA Kenyakippra.or.ke

An autonomous institute conducting public policy research to provide high-quality analysis, advice, and training to influence decision-making for national development

Think Tanks 馃嚢馃嚜 Nairobi 185 1999
28
Partners for Health and Development in Africa (PHDA)phdaf.org

A non-profit organization in Kenya focusing on health and development initiatives in Africa, with a strong history of STI and HIV research and programs

Research Services 馃嚢馃嚜 Nairobi 184 2012

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How this list is built

Every company on this list has a Tamtam company profile. The industry is the one the company gives on LinkedIn; categories such as SaaS or fintech are classified by Tamtam's AI from the company's website and LinkedIn page; and the headquarters city must match the company's own address. Companies are ranked by the number of employees on LinkedIn, and the list is refreshed every night. Classifications can be wrong, so treat the list as a starting point rather than an official ranking. Last updated Nov 12, 2026.

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