Mount Kenya University Institutional Ethics Review Committee (IERC) held a workshop on Tuesday 16^th February, 2021 at the Senate Board room, Alumni Plaza at MKU’s main campus, Thika. The training was organized for members of the newly reconstituted IERC that was re-accredited by the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) on December 20^th, 2020. The reconstitution of the IERC membership involved appointment of new members to serve on the committee. The new members benefitted from the training that improved their capacity to discharge the mandates of IERC which is to determine ethical issues of research projects in the country, a mandate delegated by NACOSTI to IERCs.

The training focused on:

1. Basic principles considered while reviewing a research protocol/proposal
2. Proposal review process and administration of the Ethics office
3. Laws governing research in Kenya and NACOSTI expectations from IERCs

The workshop was facilitated by Dr. Stephen O. Muhudhia, a clinical ethicist and consultant pediatrician from Nairobi Hospital and Mr. Boniface W. Wanyama, Deputy Director, Registration, Accreditation and Quality Assurance from NACOSTI. During the meeting, Dr. Peter G. Kirira, the Chairman MKU IERC informed members of the commitment by the University to ensure seamless operations of the Ethics Office.   MKU IERC is amongst the 31 institutions accredited by NACOSTI to provide services related to ethics review of research proposals in the country.