The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) has updated the reviewed charges for the 2025 DNA testing services.
In a statement shared on its official social media pages, KEMRI disclosed that service prices will increase by Ksh7,000 starting this month.
With the new price adjustment, the services previously costing Ksh20,000 will now be charged at Ksh27,000.
“We wish to inform our valued customers of a marginal price adjustment for the DNA Testing Service from Ksh20,000 to Ksh27,000 starting this January 2025,” KEMRI said.
The latest announcement has been met with various reactions from a section of Kenyans who rely on the services to determine paternity, resolve family disputes including inheritance matters, and solve court cases among others.
The Bioinformatics Institute of Kenya (KIBS) and KEMRI offer DNA testing and analysis services in Kenya. DNA paternity testing are carried out in two circumstances: court-induced and self-induced.
The processed findings of DNA paternity testing ordered by the courts for children are often handled with the utmost confidentiality.
Consent from both the mother and the kid is essential when someone starts the DNA paternity test on their own. KEMRI, however, states that the findings of the self-initiated DNA test are not accepted in court.
Paternity results could take anywhere between three to ten working days.
In 2023, there was ongoing debate following the introduction of home test kits introduced to the Kenyan market.
Due to concerns about the safety and accuracy of the kits, which can cost as little as Ksh600, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) issued a warning to the public about their use.
PPB particularly stated that the self-test kits had not been authorised for sale in the country.
“It has been brought to the attention of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) that unauthorised home DNA test kits are being marketed on digital platforms for retail in the Kenyan market,” PPB said.
“Please note that the PPB has not authorised any retailer to sell such kits and hereby appeals to the public to be on the lookout for retailers marketing these kits.”
