Kenya’s Ahmed Kalebi makes history as only African named in global pathology Hall of Fame

Kenyan specialist becomes the only African among 15 pioneers recognised for their lasting contributions to pathology and laboratory medicine

Kenya’s Ahmed Kalebi makes history as only African named in global pathology Hall of Fame

Kenyan specialist becomes the only African among 15 pioneers recognised for their lasting contributions to pathology and laboratory medicine

Kenyan pathologist Dr Ahmed Kalebi has made history after becoming the only African and the only representative from a low- or middle-income country to be named in the inaugural Hall of Fame of The Pathologist, an international publication covering pathology and laboratory medicine.

Dr Kalebi joins 14 other leading professionals in the inaugural class of 15 honourees recognised for their lasting contributions to the field.

The group includes the late Professor Christopher D.M. Fletcher (1958–2024), formerly of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the late Professor Richard Scolyer AO (1966–2026), a renowned melanoma pathologist from the University of Sydney and Melanoma Institute Australia.

Latest Stories

Water bowser torched in Eastleigh after allegedly hitting pedestrian as driver flees scene
High Court convicts controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie and 30 followers of 191 murders in Shakahola
Sonko wants impeachment overturned after Supreme Court upholds misconduct findings against former judge
IGAD, partners launch regional training to tackle shortage of animal health laboratory auditors

“I receive it with immense gratitude, pride and humility, not merely as a personal achievement, but also as a recognition of the exceptional talent, resilience and potential that exist within the pathology and laboratory medicine profession across Africa,” he said.

His induction follows six appearances on The Pathologist Power List, in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025 and 2026. His latest appearance placed him among 50 leading voices in global pathology and laboratory medicine, recognising his efforts to advance diagnostic technology in Kenya and promote its responsible use in resource-constrained settings.

The honour comes just days after Dr Kalebi Labs (DKL), the specialised diagnostic laboratory he founded in Nairobi, marked its second anniversary on October 16.

Established in October 2024, DKL was set up to demonstrate that advanced diagnostic services can be developed and delivered in Africa, helping improve the quality and speed of diagnosis and, ultimately, patient care.

The laboratory operates a paperless, digital-first system and uses technologies including total laboratory automation, digital pathology, molecular diagnostics, flow cytometry, next-generation sequencing and artificial intelligence-enabled systems.

Dr Kalebi said building the laboratory had depended on the support and dedication of the people around him, particularly its staff.

“Whatever I have achieved over the years has been made possible by the dedication and support of many talented colleagues with whom I have had the privilege of working,” he said.

“Today, our remarkable team at DKL continues to demonstrate that world-class, cutting-edge laboratory medicine can be developed and delivered right here in Kenya. This recognition belongs to them as much as it does to me.”

Beyond the personal achievement, Dr Kalebi said the induction should highlight the contribution African scientists and laboratory professionals can make to healthcare worldwide.

He called for more opportunities for African experts to receive international recognition, alongside greater investment in the institutions and skills needed to strengthen diagnostic services across the continent.

“Africa has exceptional talent in pathology, science and laboratory medicine. We must create more opportunities for that expertise to be recognised and celebrated internationally, while continuing to build the diagnostic capabilities, institutions and professional capacity that our healthcare systems urgently need at home,” he said.

Pathology plays a central role in healthcare by helping doctors identify diseases, guide treatment decisions and monitor patients. However, access to advanced diagnostic services remains a challenge in many resource-constrained settings.

Dr Kalebi has spent much of his career advocating for greater recognition of pathology as a foundation of effective healthcare.

Through his professional work and the establishment of DKL, he has sought to demonstrate how modern laboratory technology can improve diagnosis and patient management in Kenya.

His induction into the inaugural Hall of Fame places him among an international group of professionals whose work has had a lasting influence on the field. It also brings greater visibility to African expertise at a time when strengthening diagnostic capacity remains critical to improving healthcare across the continent.

In 2021, former President Uhuru Kenyatta awarded Dr Kalebi the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) in recognition of his outstanding service to the country.

Dr Kalebi has also remained at the forefront of Kenya’s fight against Covid-19 since last year. He is credited with promoting the uptake of Covid-19 testing services across the country and raising awareness of the role laboratory professionals play in disease control.

He is a consultant pathologist and laboratory medicine specialist with more than 20 years of experience. He is the founder, executive chairman, chief executive officer and principal pathologist of Dr Kalebi Labs, a specialised referral diagnostic laboratory based in Nairobi.

Having appeared on The Pathologist Power List six times, Dr Kalebi has championed the advancement of diagnostic technology, laboratory innovation and professional development in pathology.

Dr Kalebi Labs combines specialist expertise with advanced diagnostic technologies in a paperless, digital-first referral laboratory designed to support high-quality diagnostic services in Kenya.