Professor Kenneth Ngure of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) has been elected as the President of the International AIDS Society (IAS), becoming the first Kenyan to hold the position.
The appointment places Kenya at the center of international HIV research and policy discussions on global efforts in prevention, treatment, research innovation, and healthcare delivery.
Prof. Ngure, an Associate Professor of Global Health at JKUAT’s School of Public Health, is an internationally recognized HIV prevention scientist with nearly 30 years of experience in biomedical research, implementation science, and public health leadership.
Professor Kenneth Ngure’s Academic and Career Background
Ngure began his academic training at Kenyatta University, earning a Bachelor of Education (Science) degree.
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He went on to pursue a Master of Public Health (MPH) at the University of Nairobi.
Prof. Ngure also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Science, Technology and Innovation (PGDSTI),
He later advanced his academic qualifications by obtaining a Master of Science (MSc) degree and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Currently, he serves as an Associate Professor of Global Health at the School of Public Health, JKUAT, where he previously served as Dean.
He is also an Affiliate Professor in the Department of Global Health at the University of Washington.
Over the years, Prof. Ngure has built a reputation as one of Africa’s leading HIV prevention researchers, focusing on biomedical prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and service delivery for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
His work has covered several African regions, including central, eastern, southern, and western Africa.
Kenneth Ngure was a site investigator in the Partners PrEP Study, a landmark research project that demonstrated the effectiveness of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in reducing HIV transmission among couples.
He later participated in the Partners PrEP Demonstration Project and Partners Scale-Up Project, which examined how HIV prevention services could be expanded to larger populations.
He has also been involved in research on HIV self-testing as a strategy to support PrEP delivery among Kenyan men and women, helping advance approaches that make HIV prevention services more accessible.
Global Leadership Roles and Contribution to HIV Policy
Before his election as President of the International AIDS Society, Ngure held several positions in global HIV research networks.
He serves on the Expert Committee on Clinical Trials of the Kenyan Pharmacy and Poisons Board and is part of international scientific groups, including the Behavioral Research Group of the International Maternal Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials Network (IMPAACT) and the Office of HIV/AIDS Network Coordination Cross-Network Behavioral Science Consultative Group.
Prof. Ngure also co-chairs the Implementation Science Working Group of the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN), a global collaboration that conducts research aimed at reducing HIV transmission and improving prevention strategies.
At the national level, he has contributed to Kenya’s HIV response through his role in the Ministry of Health’s PrEP Technical Working Group.
He was recently appointed to the WHO Technical Advisory Group on STIs.
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Research Achievements and Recognition
Prof. Kenneth Ngure has authored more than 250 reviewed scientific publications and over 250 conference abstracts.
He has also supervised 49 postgraduate students to completion.
His notable research contribution is his role as co-chair of MTN-034, a multi-country study that evaluated the safety, adherence, and acceptability of the dapivirine vaginal ring and oral emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate among African adolescent girls and young women.
In 2023, Ngure received the Senior Researcher Award at the International Conference on HIV Treatment, Prevention, and Adherence. He was later elected as a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences in 2024.
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