Duale defends Ebola readiness, confirms US partnership for Laikipia quarantine facility

The government has defended ongoing investments in Ebola preparedness, saying a new health security facility in Laikipia will strengthen Kenya's ability to respond to infectious disease threats before they spread across communities.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the project is part of broader efforts to enhance the country's preparedness amid the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In a statement, Duale said Kenya cannot afford to be complacent because "infectious diseases do not respect national borders."

He noted that Kenya's position as a regional hub for trade, travel and commerce makes it vulnerable to cross-border health threats, underscoring the need for stronger surveillance and emergency response systems.

According to Duale, the government is partnering with the United States Government to establish a specialised facility at a military installation in Laikipia.

The facility is expected to strengthen the country's monitoring, isolation and emergency response capacity in the event of an outbreak.

"In partnership with the United States Government, Kenya is also establishing a similar facility at a military installation in Laikipia to strengthen monitoring, isolation, and emergency response capacity," Duale said.

He said the partnership goes beyond infrastructure and will also support enhanced surveillance, diagnostic capacity, emergency preparedness exercises, critical medical supplies and rapid response capabilities.

Duale stressed that protecting Kenyans requires a proactive strategy rather than waiting for diseases to enter the country.

"Protecting Kenyans requires more than hoping diseases do not cross our borders or relying solely on screening at points of entry," he said.

"It requires a comprehensive approach that combines effective surveillance and border screening with strong preparedness and response systems before a crisis emerges, not after it has already taken hold."

The Health CS said the Laikipia project forms part of a wider national preparedness plan that includes specialised isolation and treatment facilities at Kenyatta National Hospital, the Kenya National Police Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.

Additional sites have also been identified in more than 10 high-risk border counties to support rapid response efforts should a case be detected.

Duale said investments linked to the Laikipia facility will have long-term benefits beyond the current Ebola threat.

He said they will strengthen Kenya's health security by improving laboratory capacity, healthcare infrastructure, disease surveillance, emergency response systems, supply chains and workforce readiness.

"By strengthening critical health systems today, these investments will leave Kenya better prepared for future outbreaks and other public health challenges," he said.