As Kenya invests in diagnostics to strengthen disease detection and healthcare delivery, the IVD market’s projected growth to KESh 8.93 billion signals a crucial shift toward evidence-based care and wider health access across the country.
By Ethical Business News Desk | June 27, 2025
Kenya’s in vitro diagnostics (IVD) market is set for sustained growth over the next seven years, with projections showing it will reach KSh 8.93 billion (equivalent to $68.66 million) by 2032, up from KSh 7.18 billion (equivalent to $55.23 million) in 2025. According to a new market report by Meticulous Research®, the industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 3.2%, driven by persistent health challenges and a growing need for faster, more reliable diagnostic solutions.
The expansion of Kenya’s IVD market is largely being driven by the country’s ongoing efforts to address a significant burden of disease, particularly infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. With an estimated 1.4 million people living with HIV and the country still ranking among the world’s highest TB burden nations, there is a strong demand for effective and accessible diagnostic tools.
Healthcare providers are increasingly adopting molecular and point-of-care diagnostic technologies to improve early disease detection while ensuring cost-effectiveness. Uddhav Sable, Research Director at Meticulous Research®, noted that the integration of modern diagnostics is reshaping how healthcare services are delivered, offering new avenues for improved patient outcomes and more efficient care delivery.
Policies and infrastructure support growth
The report attributes the market’s momentum to a combination of health policy reforms, infrastructure development, and the growing importance of timely diagnostics in both urban and rural settings. Community-based testing, mobile diagnostic units, and self-testing kits are making diagnostics more widely available, including in previously underserved regions.
Diagnostic labs remain at the center of Kenya’s healthcare response. With over 200 accredited laboratories operating nationally—many under the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and National Public Health Laboratories—the country’s diagnostic infrastructure plays a key role in disease surveillance and outbreak response.
Leading market segments
Among the various market segments, reagents and kits are expected to dominate, accounting for 83.4% of the market share by 2025. Their growth is supported by high-volume routine testing and wide applicability across disease areas. Immunoassay and immunochemistry systems will continue to be the most used diagnostic technologies, particularly for infectious diseases. However, the fastest-growing segment will be whole blood glucose monitoring, as awareness of diabetes and the need for regular monitoring increases.
Persistent barriers to access
Despite this progress, the market faces several implementation barriers. In rural areas, diagnostic service delivery remains constrained by limited infrastructure, poor logistics, and supply chain challenges. High costs of diagnostic equipment and limited cold chain capabilities hinder broader access to testing. Additionally, there are challenges related to personnel training, regulatory approvals, and system integration, particularly when deploying advanced diagnostic models.
According to the report, Kenya’s success will depend on deploying technologies that deliver clinical value while being compatible with the country’s health system capabilities and economic environment. This includes simplifying diagnostic platforms, improving local supply chains, and ensuring that diagnostics can be used effectively in both high-end labs and community health centers.
A competitive and evolving landscape
The competitive landscape includes major global diagnostic firms such as Abbott Laboratories, Roche, Siemens Healthineers, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and QIAGEN. These companies are working alongside local and regional players like KEMRI, Biovet Ltd., and Laboratories & Allied Ltd., creating a dynamic environment that balances international standards with local needs.
As Kenya advances toward universal health coverage and responds to shifting disease patterns, the role of diagnostics is becoming more central than ever. The forecasted KSh 8.93 billion market size by 2032 is not just a reflection of business potential, but of a critical shift toward evidence-based, accessible healthcare across the country.
