ARTHUR, OBEL
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PHOTO CAPTION: Arthur Obel. SOURCE: TNX Africa
Arthur Obel (1949 – September 27, 2025) was a Kenyan medical researcher and scientist best known for his controversial role in HIV/AIDS research. He is widely remembered as the developer and promoter of Kemron and Pearl Omega, drugs he claimed showed therapeutic benefits for people living with HIV/AIDS. His work placed him at the centre of intense scientific and public debate, making him one of the most discussed medical figures in Kenya during the late 20th century.
Arthur Obel was born in 1949 in Kenya to Mzee Martine Botsa and Mama Margaret Achieng. He began his formal education at Bukhalalire Primary School in Butula, Busia County, and later attended Kamusinga Secondary School, where he completed both his O-level and A-level studies.
He pursued medical training at the University of Nairobi, graduating with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) in April 1974. In 1978, Obel earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics from the University of London, studying on a scholarship awarded through the World Health Organization (WHO). He later completed a Doctor of Medicine (MD) in Clinical Medicine at the University of Nairobi in 1987.
Obel’s professional career spanned clinical medicine, pharmacology, and public health administration. He served in several senior roles within Kenya’s public health system, including as Director of Medical Services. During the 1980s and 1990s, he rose to national and international prominence for advocating Kemron, an alpha interferon based drug he promoted as a treatment for HIV/AIDS.
While Kemron attracted significant attention and hope among patients, it was met with skepticism by much of the global medical and scientific community, which questioned the rigor of the clinical trials and the strength of the evidence supporting its effectiveness. These disputes sparked broader debates on research ethics, regulatory oversight, and the challenges faced by scientists working in resource-limited settings during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Despite criticism, Obel remained steadfast in his convictions and continued to influence public discourse on HIV/AIDS treatment in Kenya.
Arthur Obel passed away on September 27, 2025, in Kenya after battling various health challenges. His death marked the close of a career that was both contentious and impactful, leaving a lasting legacy in Kenya’s medical history and in discussions surrounding innovation, ethics, and public health research in Africa.
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