Professor Fredrick Were appointed Chairperson of the KMPDC

He serves as the Dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Nairobi and is an Adjunct Professor of Newborn Medicine at Aga Khan University in East Africa.

KENYA—Professor Fredrick Namenya Were, a renowned paediatrician and researcher, has been appointed Chairperson of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), succeeding Professor Stanley Khainga, whose appointment was revoked.

This change was officially announced through a gazette notice issued by the president, confirming that Professor Were’s three-year term began on July 25.

Professor Were, a Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health, specialises in Newborn Medicine and holds the qualifications MBChB, MMED, and PhD, and actively supports the Ministry of Health by participating in several national committees focused on child health.

His long-standing involvement with the Kenya Paediatric Association includes serving 11 years as its National Chairman and continuing as an adviser on research initiatives.

On the international stage, Professor Were is a member of the World Health Organisation’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunisation and participates in maternal and newborn health programs globally.

He serves as the Dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Nairobi and is an Adjunct Professor of Newborn Medicine at Aga Khan University in East Africa.

Additionally, he leads as Executive Director and Chief Researcher of the Kenya Paediatric Research Consortium, a division of the Kenya Paediatric Association.

Clinically, he provides newborn care at Kenyatta National Hospital, Aga Khan University Hospital, and Avenue Hospital in Nairobi, acting as the lead consultant in his specialty.

His medical journey began at the University of Nairobi, where he earned his undergraduate degree.

He completed his pediatric residency at Kenyatta National Hospital and later pursued a fellowship in neonatology at Monash University Medical Centre in Australia.

Between 2002 and 2007, he returned to the University of Nairobi as a senior lecturer while completing his PhD in 2008.

Professor Were’s leadership spans various professional bodies, and he has served as President of the International Society of Tropical Paediatrics and the Eastern African Paediatric Association.

He also holds a standing committee role in the International Paediatric Association and chairs the Oversight Committee for the Network for Education and Support in Immunisation (NESI).

With over 100 published papers in newborn medicine and health systems, his scientific work supports policy development.

In Kenya, he advises the Ministry of Health on immunisation policies, helping create the National Immunisation Policy and the Health Workers’ Guide to Vaccines and Immunisation.

Moreover, he chairs Kenya’s National Immunisation Technical Advisory Group (KENITAG) and is involved in regional efforts such as the National Immunisation Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) and polio certification committees.

Professor Were’s research focuses on improving newborn care, especially nutrition for low birth weight infants, while promoting child health advocacy.

He passionately works to increase childhood immunization coverage and raise public awareness about vaccines.

The Kenya Paediatric Association has praised this appointment, recognizing it as a well-deserved reflection of Professor Were’s leadership and commitment to advancing healthcare regulation and maintaining professional standards in the country.

Through his extensive experience and dedication, he is poised to strengthen the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council and contribute significantly to Kenya’s healthcare sector.