USAMRU-K MISSION 

• Develop and test improved means for predicting, detecting, preventing, and treating infectious disease threats to U.S. military personnel and the host nation
• Conduct surveillance, training, research, and response activities related to emerging infectious disease threats.
• Partner in executing the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI).
• Support the AFRICOM Commander’s Health Related Theater Security Cooperation activities through engagement of nations in the region in executing our mission.

USAMRU-K ORGANIZATIONAL FOOTPRINT

As of 15 November 2011, USAMRU-K is composed of twelve U.S. Army officers, one U.S. Air Force officer and two  Department of Defense Government Service Civilians.  There are two U.S. Embassy Foreign Service Nationals (FSNs) and over 600 contracted Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) or Henry Jackson Foundation  - Medical Research International (HJF-MRI) employees assigned to the unit.  Primary operational sites in Kenya for USAMRU-K include Nairobi, Kericho Field Station and Kisumu Field Station.

USAMRU-K Headquarters is located in Nairobi, Kenya on the campus of the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and is one of five U.S. DoD overseas research laboratories.   The unit was established in 1969 at the invitation of the Kenya Government to study trypanosomiasis in western Kenya.  USAMRU-K was permanently established in 1973.  USAMRU-K Headquarters coordinates operations with the U.S. Embassy, Senior Defense Official/Defense Attaché which includes the Kenya U.S. Liaison Office (KUSLO)/Defense Attaché Office (DAO),  U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), U.S. Army Africa (USARAF), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and numerous Kenyan Ministries.