Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has refuted allegations suggesting Kenya has entered a new agreement with the United States to establish a quarantine facility for American or foreign nationals.
Addressing the growing public debate on the matter, Duale clarified that the referenced agreement is not recent but rather an existing health cooperation pact signed between Kenya and the US in 2015.
“Concerning media reports claiming Kenya has agreed to establish a quarantine facility for US citizens or foreign nationals, I wish to state clearly that Kenya and the US government signed an agreement on cooperation in threat reduction, biological and infectious diseases on July 24, 2015, during President Obama’s state visit with President Uhuru,” he explained.
The Health Cabinet Secretary further noted that the agreement was established during the tenure of former presidents Uhuru Kenyatta and Barack Obama, with the objective of enhancing collaboration in addressing biological threats, infectious diseases, and public health emergencies.
Duale’s comments followed online concerns that Kenya might host a US-linked quarantine facility, prompting public discussion about the agreement’s implications for the country.
His statement is anticipated to alleviate concerns, as he emphasized that the agreement in question is a health cooperation framework that has been operational for over a decade.
Additionally, Duale outlined Kenya’s preparations for a potential Ebola outbreak, noting that several facilities have been evaluated and readied. At the national level, he mentioned that Kenyatta National Hospital, the country’s primary referral hospital, has designated an eight-bed isolation unit. Another isolation center has been established at the National Police Hospital on Mbagathi Way, featuring a 49-bed facility.
The Health Cabinet Secretary also indicated that more isolation facilities will be available across counties, with 29 locations already identified for Ebola preparedness measures.
Duale informed parliament that Kenya is receiving assistance from the World Health Organization, which has donated 1,000 Ebola personal protective equipment items to date.