Gates Foundation dismisses claims of releasing Mosquitoes in Nairobi as false

The Gates Foundation has strongly denied viral social media claims alleging that it operates a laboratory in Nairobi and has released genetically modified mosquitoes into the Kenyan capital.

In a statement issued on Monday, February 9, the foundation said the allegations circulating online are “false and misleading,” stressing that it does not conduct mosquito releases or run vector-control laboratories in Nairobi or anywhere else.

“The Gates Foundation does not release mosquitoes, operate laboratories that do so, or run vector-control activities in Nairobi or anywhere else,” the foundation said.

The clarification followed remarks by senior Kenyan lawyer Paul Kuite, who alleged on social media that genetically modified mosquitoes released from laboratories were now biting residents, particularly children and the elderly. His comments fueled widespread online speculation and public concern.

The foundation emphasized that malaria prevention and control efforts in Kenya are led entirely by the Kenyan government through its institutions and regulatory frameworks. It said its role is limited to supporting government-led public health priorities through transparent partnerships.

“In Kenya, malaria prevention and control efforts are led by Kenyan authorities and institutions, in accordance with national laws and regulatory oversight,” the statement added.

The Gates Foundation acknowledged that it supports research into genetically based vector control tools, including gene-drive technology, which scientists are exploring as a way to reduce malaria transmission. The approach works by modifying malaria-carrying mosquitoes so they either cannot transmit the disease or their populations decline over time, while leaving other mosquito species unaffected.

The foundation said such research is pursued because malaria continues to kill nearly 600,000 people annually, most of them African children, despite the widespread use of bed nets and antimalarial medicines.

It also noted that any experimental work involving genetically modified mosquitoes requires extensive community engagement and government approval. The foundation cited a research project in Burkina Faso, where experimental releases of male mosquitoes began in 2019 but were suspended by the government in August 2025 over safety and environmental concerns.

In Kenya, malaria research involving genetically modified mosquitoes is being led by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) in collaboration with Imperial College London, under national regulatory oversight. The Gates Foundation said it supports such initiatives through partnerships with African research institutions but does not directly conduct or manage mosquito releases.

The foundation urged the public to disregard unverified online claims and rely on information from official government and public health authorities.

Mustaqbal