Principal Secretary for Medical Services Ouma Oluga has said that Kenya is prepared for a worst-case Ebola outbreak scenario and has put in place contingency measures, including shared quarantine facilities.
Oluga noted that the country is strengthening its emergency response capacity as part of preparedness measures, including surveillance, isolation facilities, and coordination with international partners.
He said Kenya’s preparedness is informed by prior experience and continuous monitoring of regional outbreaks, particularly in neighbouring countries.
“Laikipia Ebola facility is for everyone; it's for Kenyans and for Americans. What we are looking at is a quarantine facility. Kenya is preparing itself to deal with Ebola adequately. We are prepared for the worst-case scenario,” Oluga said during an interview at NTV on Tuesday.
“We come from a point of privilege; we have prior information on this,” he said.
The PS has previously outlined a multi-layered Ebola response strategy that includes screening at points of entry, contact tracing, public awareness, and training of health workers.
According to the Ministry of Health, more than 2,200 health workers have already been trained to respond to potential Ebola cases, with additional training conducted during recent surveillance exercises following outbreaks in the region.
Authorities have also intensified monitoring of travellers arriving from Ebola-affected areas, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, as part of early detection efforts.
The government has maintained that designated facilities, including quarantine and isolation centres, are being readied to handle suspected cases while ensuring strict infection prevention and control measures.
He noted that Kenya has been building its Ebola response capacity for years, with medical personnel receiving specialised training whenever outbreaks occur in neighbouring countries.
"Health workers need to be properly trained and properly prepared. So far, in just this specific incident, we've trained around 800. But overall, we've trained around 2,200 health workers. We have had Ebola scares for quite some time. Uganda has had its ninth outbreak. Every time there is an outbreak, Kenyan health workers are trained," he said.
Oluga revealed that he was among 90 Kenyan doctors who were trained at the Rwanda-DRC border during an Ebola outbreak in 2013, emphasising that the country has continuously invested in preparedness.
The PS said the government is maintaining a high index of suspicion for anyone who has travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) or Uganda within the last 21 days.
"Every single citizen should help the country in its responsibility to protect itself," he said.
He urged Kenyans to be vigilant and report suspected cases, especially among people arriving from Ebola-affected regions.
Oluga said members of the public can report concerns through the government's Ebola hotline, 719.
