Nurses Union reject plan to host Ebola-exposed patients, warns Kenya is not Ready

Activists carry a symbolic coffin as they protest on the proposed establishment of Ebola quarantine facilities in Kenya outside Milimani law courts, Nairobi on June 2, 2026 /LEAH MUKANGAI

The Kenya National Union of Nurses and Midwives (KNUMN) has thrown its weight behind growing opposition to plans to establish facilities for handling Ebola-exposed foreign nationals in Kenya, warning that the country's fragile healthcare system cannot shoulder such a high-risk burden.

In a letter to Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, the union said Kenya lacks the infrastructure, resources and safeguards needed to safely manage individuals exposed to the deadly Ebola virus.

While acknowledging the value of international partnerships and global health cooperation, KNUMN insisted that Kenya must first address persistent challenges within its own healthcare system before taking on additional responsibilities.

"Kenya's public healthcare sector continues to face serious challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, shortages of specialised isolation facilities, limited intensive care capacity, and insufficient medical equipment necessary for safely managing highly infectious diseases," said KNUMN Secretary General Seth Panyako.

The union argued that nurses and other frontline healthcare workers are already overstretched, understaffed and exposed to significant risks while delivering essential services across the country.

According to KNUMN, current health risk allowances, occupational safety protections and insurance cover for healthcare workers remain inadequate given the dangers associated with handling highly infectious diseases such as Ebola.

The union warned that before Kenya considers accommodating individuals exposed to Ebola under any international arrangement, substantial investment must be made in healthcare infrastructure, staff training, emergency preparedness systems, protective equipment and the welfare of frontline workers.

"The safety and welfare of Kenyan healthcare workers and the public must remain the highest priority in all international health arrangements and collaborations," Panyako said.

KNUMN outlined five conditions it wants met before any such plans can proceed. These include comprehensive stakeholder consultations, full disclosure of safety protocols and international agreements, expansion of isolation and emergency response facilities, improved laboratory capacity, and enhanced protection and compensation for frontline healthcare workers.

The union also demanded assurances that any international collaboration would strengthen Kenya's healthcare capacity rather than expose the country to greater risks.

Despite its concerns, KNUMN said it remains committed to constructive international cooperation, provided it safeguards the dignity, welfare, safety and professional rights of Kenyan healthcare workers and citizens.

"We reiterate our commitment for cordial working relationship," Panyako said.

The union's intervention comes amid an ongoing debate over a proposed Ebola-related facility in Kenya, a matter that has attracted public scrutiny and legal challenges