Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has reassured Kenyans that the country remains free of Ebola, even as authorities enhance surveillance and preparedness measures amid growing concern over the deadly disease in the region.
Speaking in Bura town during a fundraiser for Islamic institutions on Sunday, Duale stated that Kenya had not recorded any Ebola cases, with all samples tested so far yielding negative results.
“As of now, we have not registered any instance of Ebola. We have tested 67 people as of yesterday. All of them have returned negative results,” he said.
The CS disclosed that the country has intensified screening at entry points, with 88,000 travelers already screened at borders, airports, and seaports as part of efforts to prevent the disease from entering Kenya.
“The nation is on high alert. At our borders, airports, and seaports, we have screened 88,000 people as of this morning,” Duale said.
He mentioned that referral hospitals, including Kenyatta National Hospital, the National Police Service Hospital, and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, have expanded isolation capacity and are prepared to respond should a case be detected.
“All our laboratories are on high alert… If we encounter a case, God forbid, we are ready,” he said.
The Ministry of Health has also activated a toll-free reporting platform, *719#, to enable members of the public to report symptoms and seek guidance.
Duale stated that the government, with assistance from the United States and the World Health Organization, has secured sufficient stocks of personal protective equipment and laboratory reagents to support outbreak response efforts.
The CS further revealed that Kenya is collaborating with the United States to establish a high-end quarantine, isolation, and treatment facility aimed at enhancing preparedness for future infectious disease outbreaks.
His comments come days after President William Ruto defended the government’s decision to establish an Ebola preparedness facility at the Laikipia Air Base, dismissing criticism from political leaders.
Speaking during a roundtable interview with North Eastern-based journalists at the Wajir State Lodge, Ruto emphasized that preparedness should never be politicized.
“We are a responsible government. We know what we are doing. People should relax. Politicians should avoid reckless, unnecessary comments that don’t mean anything,” the President said.
Ruto noted that Kenya already operates more than 20 specialized infectious disease facilities across the country and insisted that strengthening screening, isolation, and treatment capacity is crucial to preventing the spread of dangerous diseases.
The President challenged critics of the Laikipia project, stating that government has a duty to prepare for public health emergencies before they occur.
“I want to ask those questioning our preparedness: what are they telling us? Are they suggesting we should not prepare? Are they implying we should not be ready?” he asked.
Duale mentioned that Kenya is drawing on lessons from previous Ebola responses, including expertise from 170 healthcare workers who served in Liberia and Sierra Leone during the West African Ebola epidemic. More than 800 health workers are currently undergoing training, while 29 counties have already identified response teams.
He urged Kenyans to remain vigilant and seek medical attention whenever they feel unwell, stressing that public health and safety remain the government’s top priority.