The government has quarantined 37 Kenyans who recently travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of enhanced Ebola surveillance measures, Medical Services Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga has revealed.
Oluga said the individuals were placed under quarantine after returning from the DRC, where concerns over Ebola transmission remain high.
The PS said the move highlights the extent of Kenya's surveillance efforts as authorities intensify monitoring of travellers arriving from Ebola-affected areas in the region.
"We have our own KDF officers in DRC; we have two banks with huge employees in Congo. We have all these employees who are coming in," Oluga said during an interview at NTV.
"Recently, can I disclose that we have already quarantined 37 Kenyans who are from Congo. They were not American citizens; they were the who is who, some of them CEOs in the country who have businesses that are supporting mines in the DRC. We have several logistics companies there."
Oluga noted that Kenya has significant economic and security interests in the DRC, resulting in frequent movement of people between the two countries.
These include Kenya Defence Forces personnel serving in regional missions, employees of Kenyan banks operating in the DRC, logistics firms and business executives involved in the mining sector.
The PS said the quarantine measures are part of the efforts aimed at preventing the importation of Ebola cases into Kenya.
This comes as the Ministry of Health maintains heightened surveillance at the country's points of entry and continues to monitor travellers arriving from the DRC and Uganda.
Health authorities have advised anyone who has travelled from the DRC or Uganda within the past 21 days to remain vigilant for symptoms associated with Ebola and to seek immediate medical attention if they develop signs of illness.
The government has also intensified screening, contact tracing and public awareness campaigns as part of its preparedness strategy.
Oluga recently disclosed that Kenya has trained 2,200 health workers to respond to potential Ebola cases and has strengthened isolation, surveillance and emergency response systems across the country.
He said the fight against Ebola requires cooperation between
the government, health workers and the public, urging citizens to report any
suspected cases through the Ministry of Health's emergency reporting channels.
The PS said that concerns over the US-Kenya Ebola deal have been blown out of proportion, adding that the government is doing everything possible to keep Ebola out of Kenya.
Oluga said the proposed isolation facility in Laikipia is not exclusively for American citizens but an addition to Kenya's capacity.
