‘Over 20,000 people are bitten by snakes annually. More than 1,000 die. Over 1,000 suffer permanent disfigurement. And that is likely an underestimation’– Dr Peter Gichuhi Mwethera, Director-General, Kenya Institute of Primate Research
Kenya is leading a major push against snakebites—a deadly but often ignored health crisis- at the ongoing World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland, where government officials and health experts joined forces to cut snakebite deaths and disabilities to zero by 2030.
The World Health Organization (WHO) six-year plan to cut snakebite deaths by 50 per cent just got a progress update. Now, Kenya—co-leading a new Global Snakebite Task Force—is stepping up as a key player in this worldwide fight.
“Snakebite remains a persistent and silent killer, one of the world’s deadliest and most overlooked health issues,” said Dr Joseph Lenai, Acting Director of Primary Health Care at the Ministry of Health.
Dr Peter Gichuhi Mwethera, Director-General, Kenya Institute of Primate Research (KIPRE), said over 20,000 people are bitten by snakes annually and “More than 1,000 die, and over 1,000 suffer permanent disfigurement. And that is likely an underestimation.”
He added that “Many cases go unreported, particularly in rural and remote areas” and according to KIPRE data the scale of underreporting is in counties like Samburu, Kitui, Tana River, Baringo, and Kilifi.
“We must think about those suffering in areas where people do not even visit. Snakebite victims are often left out of the healthcare spotlight,” said Dr Gichuhi.
Kenya currently imports more than 70 percent of its medicines and health commodities. Most of the antivenoms used are manufactured in India or Europe, and they often show low efficacy against Kenyan snake species.
“The efficacy rates of imported antivenoms are low. That increases treatment costs and delays response time,” Dr Mwethera explained. “We are working to develop locally produced, efficacious antivenoms through science and partnerships. It is the only way to drive down costs and improve access.”
KIPRE has begun working with contract manufacturers to develop Kenyan-made products. The plan is to start with partnerships, move to technology transfer, and build local manufacturing within three to four years.
According to Principal Secretary for Public Health, Mary Muthoni, prioritising snakebite through policy and prevention is key to tackling this challenge as “The suffering caused by snakebites is entirely preventable,” she said, adding that “Snakebite is a neglected health issue hiding in plain sight. It devastates lives and livelihoods, and it is our collective responsibility to respond.”
She stressed the need to include snakebite response in national policy and called for teamwork and planning based on solid data.
“We now have a clear direction, with the Global Snakebite Task Force launched and Kenya co-hosting. This puts us in a leadership position, and it is up to us to unlock progress, advocate for investment, and deliver lasting change for vulnerable communities,” she said.
PS Muthoni praised Kenya’s recent strides in community-based healthcare, emergency response systems, and localised mapping, which provide a foundation to strengthen snakebite prevention and care.
Despite good progress, the lack of reliable national data is still a big challenge. Speakers urged better tracking of snakebites within the health system as “We need data to forecast how much antivenom we need, where to place it, and how to train our workforce,” said Dr Lenai. “We are improving that with advocacy, science, and formal health integration.”
Dr Mwethera added that KIPRE is actively mapping snakebite hotspots, using data to understand species distribution, incident trends, and response gaps. These insights are critical to localising solutions.
“The problem is real. And the response must start now,” said Dr Oluga, Principal Secretary for Medical Services. “We face challenges in the availability of commodities and in the capacity of healthcare workers to respond confidently.”
Kenya has made significant policy shifts, including classifying snakebite as a notifiable disease and “We have allocated money to begin domestic production of antivenom. This is a clear signal that we are no longer treating this as a neglected issue,” said Hon Patrick Munene Ntwiga, Vice Chair of Kenya’s Parliamentary Committee on Health Financing.
The Global Snakebite Task Force co-chair, SenegaleseElhadj As Sy, a humanitarian aid expert and Chair of the Kofi Annan Foundation’s Global Health Commission, described the task force as “a multisectoral response to a multisectoral problem.”
“This is not just about numbers. It is about people, communities, and lives lost. Kenya is showing leadership, and the world is watching,” he said.
Despite the many challenges currently being experienced, Dr Mwethera said, “With continued government backing and scientific innovation, we can change the narrative and ensure snakebite is no longer neglected.”
