Starting January 2025, the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) has raised the cost of DNA identification tests by KES 7,000. The test, which was previously priced at KES 20,000, will now cost KES 27,000. The price adjustment was announced on Wednesday, January 8, with KEMRI reassuring its clients that the increase is due to unavoidable operational costs.
“We wish to inform our valued customers of a slight price adjustment for the DNA Testing Service, from KES 20,000 to KES 27,000, effective January 2025. Thank you for your continued support,” KEMRI stated in its announcement.
KEMRI explained that the price increase was driven by rising operational costs, including the higher cost of essential reagents used in DNA testing. These include enzymes, primers, nucleotides, and buffers, as well as the increased prices of DNA extraction kits. Davis Mkoji, a KEMRI spokesman, emphasized that the increase was not “malicious” but necessary to cover these costs.
This price adjustment comes amid increasing demand for DNA testing services across the country. KEMRI has long been a popular choice, particularly for lower-income households, due to its relatively affordable rates compared to private hospitals, which charge up to KES 100,000 for similar services. At the national referral Kenyatta National Hospital, the price of DNA tests ranges between KES 20,000 and KES 30,000.
KEMRI’s Human DNA Identification Laboratory (HID) provides various tests, including paternity and family relationship tests, which have gained popularity in recent years. The laboratory serves both private clients and court referrals, particularly in child support disputes.
Despite the rising cost, KEMRI maintains that DNA testing remains mandatory only for criminal investigations or court-ordered paternity cases. Meanwhile, a 2023 report by the Kenya Institute of Bioinformatics revealed strong demand for relationship testing, with paternity tests making up 94% of the samples analyzed.
In 2023, concerns over the safety and accuracy of DNA home test kits, priced at KES 600, led to a warning from the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB), further highlighting the importance of regulated DNA testing services.
