News07 June 2026 - 15:43

Kenya still Ebola-free and 88,000 screened, 67 test negative - CS Duale

“As of now, we have not reported any case of Ebola,” Duale said

by STEPHEN ASTARIKO

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Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has assured Kenyans that the country remains free of Ebola, even as authorities intensify surveillance and preparedness measures amid growing concern over the deadly disease in the region.

Speaking in Bura town on Sunday during a fundraiser for Islamic institutions, Duale said Kenya had not recorded a single Ebola infection, with all samples tested so far returning negative results.

“As of now, we have not reported any case of Ebola. We have tested 67 people as of yesterday. All of them have turned negative,” he said.

The CS revealed that the country has heightened screening at entry points, with 88,000 travellers already screened at borders, airports and seaports as part of efforts to prevent the disease from entering the country.

“The country is on high alert. At our borders, airports and seaports, we have screened 88,000 people as of this morning,” Duale said.

He said referral hospitals, including Kenyatta National Hospital, the National Police Service Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, have expanded isolation capacity and are ready to respond should a case be detected.

“All our laboratories are on high alert... In the event we get a case, God forbid, we are prepared,” 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 said the government, with support from the United States and the World Health Organization, has secured adequate stocks of personal protective equipment and laboratory reagents to support outbreak response efforts.

The CS further disclosed that Kenya is partnering with the United States to establish a high-end quarantine, isolation and treatment facility aimed at strengthening preparedness for future infectious disease outbreaks.

His remarks 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 said preparedness should never be politicised.

“We are a responsible government. We know what we are doing. People should relax. Politicians should avoid reckless, unnecessary talk that doesn't mean anything,” the President said.

Ruto noted that Kenya already operates more than 20 specialised infectious disease facilities across the country and insisted that strengthening screening, isolation and treatment capacity is critical to preventing the spread of dangerous diseases.

The President challenged critics of the Laikipia project, saying 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 saying we should not prepare? Are they telling us we should not be ready?” he posed.

Duale said 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, maintaining that public health and safety remain the government's top priority.