The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has dismissed viral social media claims suggesting it has been releasing mosquitoes in Kenya.
In a statement, the foundation clarified that it does not conduct mosquito release activities in Kenya or anywhere else.
“The Gates Foundation is aware of social media posts claiming that we release mosquitoes in Kenya. This claim is false,” the foundation said.
It further explained that it neither operates laboratories that release mosquitoes nor runs vector-control programs in Nairobi or other parts of the country.
“The Gates Foundation does not release mosquitoes, operate laboratories that do so, or run vector-control activities in Nairobi or anywhere else,” the statement added.
The foundation emphasized that malaria prevention and control in Kenya is led entirely by Kenyan authorities and institutions, operating under national laws and regulatory frameworks.
“In Kenya, malaria prevention and control efforts are led by Kenyan authorities and institutions, in accordance with national laws and regulatory oversight,” the foundation said.
Its involvement in Kenya, the foundation clarified, is limited to supporting locally identified health priorities in partnership with the government, researchers, and public health organizations.
“The foundation supports Kenyan-led priorities transparently and responsibly, working alongside governments, researchers, and public health partners,” it stated.
The clarification comes after social media users raised concerns about mosquitoes in Nairobi, with some attributing their presence to the Gates Foundation.
One user wrote on X: “Our Capital City Nairobi is now flooded with mosquitoes released from your laboratories to eliminate the malaria-carrying ones we’re told. We believe your genetically modified mosquitoes are designed to harm us. They’re now busy biting children and the elderly.”
Another questioned: “Has Bill Gates Labs deliberately released Mosquitoes in Nairobi so that he can later sell us Malaria drugs? Is that what has happened?”
A third user added: “Bill Gates Foundation released mosquitoes from their laboratories in Nairobi to eliminate the ones which were carrying Malaria. The genetically modified mosquitoes which were supposed to eliminate Malaria are now “chewing” children and the elderly unapologetically. These people, I think, are creating problems so that they will benefit from it.”
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