Prof. Davy Kiprotich Koech
Chief Executive, Centre for Clinical & Molecular

Sciences [CLIMS]

Professor of Immunology & Molecular Medicine, CLIMS
Assumed office
2008 - to Date
Distinguished Professor, Australian-Asian Institute of Civil Leadership
In office
2006 – to Date
Chief Research Officer, Kenya Medical Research Institute, KEMRI
In office
1989–2016
Professor of Immunology & Molecular Medicine
In office
1989 – to Date
3rd Director & Chief Executive Officer, Kenya Medical Research Institute, KEMRI
In office
1989–2010
Succeeded byProf. Solomon S.R Mpoke
Director, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre, Kenya Medical Research Institute, KEMRI
In office
1984–1989
Director, Clinical Research Centre, Kenya Medical Research Institute, KEMRI
In office
1982–1984
Personal details
Born (1951-08-21) 21 August 1951
Motero, Soliat, Kericho County
NationalityKenyan
Residence(s)Nairobi, Kenya
Alma materKericho High School, Strathmore College, University of Nairobi
OccupationImmunologist
ProfessionScientist
Signature
Websitewww.davykoech.com

Davy Kiprotich Koech (alias DK) (born 21 August 1951) is a Kenyan scientist.[1] He is currently the Chief Executive Officer Centre for Clinical & Molecular Sciences; Professor of Immunology & Molecular Medicine; Distinguished Professor, The Australian-Asian Institute of Civil Leadership.[2]

Early life and education

Koech was born on 21 August 1951 in a small village, Motero, Soliat Sub-Location[3] of the Kericho County. His parents were Samuel Kipkoech (aka Kipruto) Mitei and Helen Mitei. He attended his early years of education at Soliat Primary School, some 4 kilometers from his home between 1956 and 1959 (Class 1-4) after which he proceeded to Sitotwet Intermediate School (now Torit School[4]) (1960-1963) where he sat the Kenya African Preliminary Examination (KAPE) and then to Cheribo Primary School (1964) where he sat the Kenya Preliminary Education (KPE) exams.

His secondary education was undertaken at the Kericho High School where he sat the Ordinary Level of the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate. G.C.E. (Nov. 1968) and proceeded to Strathmore College where he sat for his University of London, General Certificate of Education, Advanced Level (Jan 1970) and further to the University of Nairobi completing in April 1974.

Koech attended the University of Nairobi where he undertook a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Zoology completing in April 1974. He later went ahead to acquire a Master of Science in Pharmacology specializing in Clinical Pharmacology at Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA in 1977.

Koech has a PhD in Medical Pathology, Immunology from the University of Nairobi, Kenya; research undertaken at Harvard University Medical School, Boston, MA, USA in 1980.

He has served in various positions in the Government of Kenya and other different organizations in the private sector and international bodies.[5]

Publications

  1. 2019 Elliot D and Koech DK. Reimaging Science and Statecraft in Postcolonial Kenya. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group. UK. 2019; London, UK
  2. 1999 Koech DK (Chairman). Totally Integrated Quality Education and Training [TIQET]. Report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Education System of Kenya. 1999; Nairobi, Kenya
  3. 1996 Mungai JM and KOECH DK (Eds.). Demystifying AIDS in Africa. African Forum for Health Sciences. 1996; Nairobi, Kenya.
  4. 1996 Mungai JM, Kofi-Tsekpo MW and KOECH DK (Eds.). Saving Africa from Drawing in Social Drugs. African Forum for Health Sciences. 1996; Nairobi, Kenya.
  5. 1986 Kinoti SN, KOECH DK and Tukei PM (Eds.). Advances in the Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Immunizable Diseases in Africa with a Symposium on AIDS: Proceedings of the Seventh KEMRI/KETRI Annual Medical Scientific Conference. 1986; Nairobi, Kenya.
  6. 1985 Tukei PM, KOECH DK and Kinoti SN (Eds.). Recent Advances in the Management and Control of Infections in Eastern Africa: Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Scientific Conference, Nairobi, Kenya. KEMRI and KETRI. 1985; Nairobi, Kenya

Koech Commission

Koech was appointed by the former president of the Republic of Kenya Daniel Toroitich arap Moi to head the Davy Koech Commission[6] that formed an inquiry into Kenya's Education System in 1999.

Controversies

In the 1990s, Koech, by then the Director of Kenya Medical Research Institute and Dr. Arthur O. Obel, the Chief Research Officer published in two medical journals the initial results of the new found drug "Kemron" that was perceived from the preliminary study of 10 patients to cure AIDS. The drug was introduced in a public ceremony presided by Kenya's former President, Daniel Toroitch Arap Moi and the work of the new wonder drug discovered was hailed as a major step against AIDS and a win for African Science by the former Vice President and Finance Minister George Saitoti.[7]

Kemron was the trade name for a low-dose of alpha interferon, manufactured form of a natural body chemical in a tablet form that dissolves in the mouth.[7]

Clinical trials of Kemron funded by WHO in five African Countries did not find any health benefits reported by Kemri Scientists. Thereafter, WHO in a press release in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland termed Kemron as an experimental drug of unproved benefit for HIV/AIDS treatment.

The American National Institute of Health concluded that no one had been able to duplicate the effects claimed by scientists behind Kemron drug.[8]

In September 2021, Davy Koech was found guilty of fraudulent acquisition of public property by Senior Principal Magistrate Victor Wakumile. The court fined Koech Ksh19.6 million which it added could be paid in two instalments failure to which he will serve a six-year jail term.

On July 25, 2023, Dr. Davy Koech was released while serving a 6-year jail term after President Ruto exercised his authority under the Mercy Act, granting him a pardon.

References

  1. ↑ "Davy Koech's research while affiliated with University of Washington Seattle and other places".
  2. ↑ https://www.davykoech.com. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ↑ "Soliat Sub-Location administrative division, Rift Valley, Kenya". ke.geoview.info. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  4. ↑ Gachie, Laban (January 12, 2018). "Torit Primary School, Kericho Details". Kenyan Life. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  5. ↑ Elliott, Denielle (September 1, 2016). "The problem with the truth: political alliances, science, and storytelling in Nairobi". Critical African Studies. 8 (3): 306–318. doi:10.1080/21681392.2016.1245105. ISSN 2168-1392. S2CID 151338333.
  6. ↑ Kenya. Commission of Inquiry into the Education System of Kenya. (1999). Totally integrated quality education and training, TIQET : report of the Commission of Inquiry into the Education System of Kenya. Republic of Kenya. OCLC 45248822.
  7. 1 2 Perlez, Jane (October 3, 1990). "In Kenya, a New AIDS Drug Gets Mired in Politics and Financial Disputes". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 25, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Faith in 'false cure' leads to renewed trials". New Scientist. Archived from the original on April 13, 2016.


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