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50 %Pooled testing led to a saving of ~50% of SARS-CoV-2 laboratory test kits at both the RNA extraction and RT-PCR stages on the Kenyan Coast.

KenyaCOVID-19observed mid-May 2020published 2020Wellcome open researcheurope_pmcdocument of 3 observations

58 %455 (58%) of hospitalized SARS-CoV-2-infected patients were symptomatic at admission, and an additional 63 (9%) developed clinical symptoms during hospitalisation.

KenyaCOVID-19published 2022BMJ openPubMeddocument of 7 observations

65 %65.0% of SARS-CoV-2-positive acute respiratory infection cases in coastal Kenya were female.

KenyaCOVID-19published 2026Open forum infectious diseaseseurope_pmcdocument of 4 observations

5 %Around 5% of the SARS-CoV-2 genomes from low- and middle-income countries were submitted within 21 days.

KenyaCOVID-19published 2022Nature communicationseurope_pmcdocument of 4 observations

22.7 %Among 2796 reviewed COVID-19 case records in Kenya, 636 (22.7%) were transporters.

KenyaCOVID-19published 2022Journal of global healthPubMeddocument of 24 observations

97 casesIn Laikipia county, Kenya, 97 SARS-CoV-2 cases were collected between 24th April and 31st December 2021.

KenyaCOVID-19observed 24th April to 31st December 2021published 2023Temporal distribution and clinical characteristics of the Alpha, Delta and Omicron SARS-Coeurope_pmcdocument of 10 observations

1.24 aORSARS-CoV-2 infected patients had an increased risk of death from respiratory illnesses, with an adjusted Odds Ratio of 1.24.

KenyaCOVID-19 · respiratory illnessespublished 2026VaccinePubMeddocument of 7 observations

47.3 %47.3% of pregnant women in Kenya were discouraged from receiving COVID-19 vaccines.

KenyaCOVID-19observed 2022published 2024International journal of environmental research and public healtheurope_pmcdocument of 5 observationsDOI 10.3390/ijerph21010098

5.9 %Between July 2022 and October 2023, 588 out of 9941 patients with severe respiratory illness tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, corresponding to a positivity rate of 5.9%.

Kenya · MaliCOVID-19observed July 2022 to October 2023published 2026VaccinePubMeddocument of 8 observations

59 %Among 1,123 hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Kenya, 59% had at least one underlying condition.

KenyaCOVID-19published 2025Global health actionPubMeddocument of 11 observations

3.1 %The prevalence of detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 3.1% among participants with HIV and 4% among participants without HIV in Western Kenya.

KenyaCOVID-19 · VIH/sidaobserved January through March 2020published 2021AIDS (London, England)PubMeddocument of 3 observations

7.7 %Few pregnant women living with HIV in Kenya reported concerns about a hospital-based delivery because of COVID-19 (7.7%).

KenyaCOVID-19 · VIH/sidaobserved October 2020 to July 2022published 2024BMC pregnancy and childbirthPubMeddocument of 4 observations

7.7 %The overall SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate was 7.7% among 99,694 naso-pharyngeal/oro-pharyngeal swabs tested in the Coastal part of Kenya between 17th March 2020 and 30th June 2021.

KenyaCOVID-19observed 17th March 2020 to 30th June 2021published 2022Wellcome open researcheurope_pmcdocument of 10 observations

5 %Few pregnant women living with HIV in Kenya reported attending fewer antenatal care appointments because of COVID-19 (5.0%).

KenyaCOVID-19 · VIH/sidaobserved October 2020 to July 2022published 2024BMC pregnancy and childbirthPubMeddocument of 4 observations

1.56 odds_ratioThe odds of developing severe COVID-19 disease were higher among cases with underlying medical conditions (odds ratio = 1.56, P < 0.001).

KenyaCOVID-19published 2022Journal of global healthPubMeddocument of 24 observations

65 %65.0% of SARS-CoV-2 positive acute respiratory infection cases in coastal Kenya were female.

KenyaCOVID-19published 2025Longitudinal Epidemiology and Variant Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in Coastal Kenya (2020 - 2025europe_pmcdocument of 8 observations

In March 2020, COVID-19 restrictions were imposed in Kenya during follow-up data collection for the Maisha Fiti study.

KenyaCOVID-19observed March 2020published 2023International journal of environmental research and public healthPubMeddocument of 5 observations

2.58 aORSRI patients presenting with ear pain discharge were more likely to have SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to those who did not, with an adjusted odds ratio of 2.58.

KenyaCOVID-19observed July 2022 to October 2023published 2026VaccinePubMeddocument of 8 observations

27.7 %SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was 27.7% among 827 female sex workers in Nairobi, Kenya, approximately one year after enrollment mid-2019.

KenyaCOVID-19published 2026PloS onePubMeddocument of 4 observations

45 introductionsLineage B.1 accounted for 45 of the 76 introductions.

KenyaCOVID-19published 2020Tracking the introduction and spread of SARS-CoV-2 in coastal Kenyaeurope_pmcdocument of 3 observationsDOI 10.1101/2020.10.05.20206730

9 monthsAntibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 waned over an average of 8–10 months.

KenyaCOVID-19observed between May 1, 2020-February 1, 2022published 2023PloS onePubMeddocument of 8 observations

239 introductionsTwo hundred thirty-nine SARS-CoV-2 introductions in Kenya between March 2020 and September 2022 were associated with the Delta variant.

KenyaCOVID-19observed March 2020 – September 2022published 2022The genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in Kenyaeurope_pmcdocument of 8 observationsDOI 10.1101/2022.10.26.22281446

58.1 %The most common symptoms among patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 were cough (58.1%), fever (45.2%), difficulty in breathing (36.8%), and general body malaise (23.9%).

KenyaCOVID-19published 2022PloS onePubMeddocument of 7 observations

1,053 casesAmong 14,562 acute respiratory infection cases recruited in coastal Kenya by February 2025, 1053 (7.2%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.

KenyaCOVID-19observed February 2025published 2026Open forum infectious diseaseseurope_pmcdocument of 4 observations

22.42 odds_ratioOmicron was associated with sore throat (odds ratio 22.42; 95% CI 7.11–81.40, p < 0.001) relative to other SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in Laikipia county, Kenya.

KenyaCOVID-19observed 24th April to 31st December 2021published 2023Temporal distribution and clinical characteristics of the Alpha, Delta and Omicron SARS-Coeurope_pmcdocument of 10 observations