Nairobi pathologist Ahmed Kalebi named among top 50 global innovators in laboratory medicine
Reflecting on his early career, Ahmed recalled his posting at Garissa Provincial General Hospital near the Somali border, where he encountered a severely under-resourced laboratory.
Nairobi-based pathologist Ahmed Kalebi has been recognised among the top 50 innovators in global laboratory medicine in The Pathologist magazine’s 2025 Power List, honouring his work in advancing diagnostics and laboratory services across East Africa.
The award highlights his efforts to introduce cutting-edge technologies, streamline laboratory workflows, and make high-quality testing accessible to underserved communities.
Ahmed, Principal Pathologist and Executive Chairman of Dr Kalebi Labs (DKL) Ltd, described the recognition as a continuation of nearly two decades of transformative work.
“Every milestone in my career has been part of a bigger journey: from my transformative stint as the first provincial pathologist in Garissa in 2005, to building East Africa’s largest private referral lab network at Lancet Group of Labs from 2009, and now pioneering a New Era of Lab Services at DKL with cutting-edge innovations, total lab automation and AI-powered diagnostics,” he said.
Severely under-resourced
Reflecting on his early career, Ahmed recalled his posting at Garissa Provincial General Hospital near the Somali border, where he encountered a severely under-resourced laboratory.
“Basic tests such as full blood counts and liver or kidney function tests were unavailable. Equipment was broken, reagents depleted, staff demoralised, and clinicians distrusted the lab. Reviving it required more than technical knowledge; it required leadership, advocacy and community engagement,” he explained.
Through coordinated efforts with hospital management, resource lobbying, and rebuilding clinicians’ trust, Ahmed said he transformed the lab into a functioning centre of excellence within three months, enabling it to qualify as an internship training site.
He also highlighted systemic gaps in Kenya’s laboratory network.
Referral pathways
“The absence of referral pathways for specialised tests like histopathology, bone marrow evaluations and immunoassays affected both public and private sectors due to Kenya’s fragmented laboratory network,” he said.
To address these gaps, Ahmed undertook further training in South Africa, with electives in Toronto and Oxford between 2006 and 2009, gaining exposure to advanced pathology systems.
Upon returning to Kenya in 2009, he partnered with Lancet Laboratories South Africa to establish East Africa’s largest private referral network.
“Together we introduced regional firsts, including diagnostic immunohistochemistry, HPV PCR, oncogenetic testing (EGFR and KRAS) and more. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I led the first private lab in the region to offer PCR testing, which quickly became the busiest centre,” he said.
After a three-year family sabbatical, he founded Dr Kalebi Labs in October 2024. The lab integrates technologies new to the region, including total lab automation, fully digital pathology workflows, NGS-based oncogenetic testing, in-house flow cytometry, and AI-powered laboratory IT systems.
Reduced turnaround times
According to Ahmed, these innovations have reduced turnaround times for specialised tests from weeks to hours while creating hundreds of jobs.
Expressing gratitude for the recognition, he said he valued the award as a genuine acknowledgement from peers rather than a paid or fee-based accolade.
“Unlike many awards that come with fees or paid invitations, The Power List by The Pathologist magazine is true peer recognition, confirmed by an expert panel of judges and that makes it all the more special. I’m deeply grateful for this recognition and privileged to contribute as a Leading Voice, working towards advancing pathology and laboratory medicine for better healthcare access, especially our underserved populations.”
Ahmed first featured on The Pathologist's The Power List in 2019, 2020, and 2021, returned in 2024 after a sabbatical, and now celebrates inclusion in the 2025 edition.
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