By Mumo Judah, Nairobi, June 2, 2026
The Government has intensified nationwide Ebola surveillance and containment measures despite recording no active cases of the disease, with 37 Kenyans returning from high-risk areas placed under mandatory quarantine as authorities move to prevent the virus from entering the country.
Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga said Kenya remains Ebola-free but is operating under heightened alert following an ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which continues to pose a significant public health threat to countries across the region.
The quarantined individuals include business executives, chief executive officers and other professionals who recently travelled to areas considered at risk. Health officials say the move is part of a broader strategy aimed at identifying and isolating potential cases before they can trigger local transmission.
“We currently have no active Ebola cases in Kenya, but our preparedness measures have been enhanced to ensure that any potential threat is detected and contained at the earliest opportunity,” said Dr. Oluga.
The Ministry of Health has classified 25 counties as either high-risk or very high-risk due to their strategic role as transport, trade and travel corridors connecting Kenya with neighbouring countries. Among the counties under heightened surveillance are Nairobi, Mombasa, Busia and areas surrounding the Malaba border crossing, which experience high volumes of international movement.
Officials attribute the increased risk to Kenya’s extensive economic and security ties with the DRC. Kenyan professionals working for multinational corporations and regional financial institutions frequently travel between Nairobi and various cities in the DRC, while Kenya Defence Forces personnel continue to serve in regional peacekeeping missions within the Central African nation.
The Government has also expressed concern over the movement of thousands of truck drivers and logistics workers who use the Northern Corridor daily to transport goods between the Port of Mombasa and destinations in Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and the eastern DRC.
To strengthen the country’s response capacity, the Ministry of Health has operationalized specialized Ebola treatment and isolation facilities at Kenyatta National Hospital, the Kenya National Police Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret. The facilities have been equipped to handle suspected and confirmed cases should the need arise.
In addition, the Government, in collaboration with the United States, is establishing a specialized disease monitoring and quarantine facility at a military installation in Laikipia County. The project has attracted public attention and criticism from some stakeholders, including the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), which raised concerns over the facility’s management and role in national biosecurity.
However, Dr. Oluga dismissed concerns surrounding the project, explaining that the facility is intended to serve both Kenyans and international partners requiring surveillance and monitoring during disease outbreaks.
He noted that the facility forms part of broader efforts to strengthen Kenya’s preparedness against emerging infectious diseases and future public health emergencies.
Meanwhile, authorities have intensified screening operations at all major points of entry into the country. Electronic thermal scanners and rapid contact-tracing systems have been deployed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Wilson Airport and key border crossings, including Busia and Malaba.
Travellers arriving from the DRC, Uganda and other affected regions are subject to enhanced health screening and monitoring procedures. Health officials have urged anyone who has recently travelled through affected areas to seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms such as fever, severe headaches, fatigue or unexplained bleeding.
According to the Ministry of Health, more than 2,200 frontline healthcare workers have been trained and deployed across high-risk counties to strengthen surveillance, case detection and emergency response capabilities. The State Department for Medical Services is also closely monitoring disease trends in at least ten neighbouring countries as part of a regional early-warning system.
Individuals identified as having potential exposure to the virus remain subject to a mandatory 21-day monitoring and isolation period, consistent with international Ebola containment protocols.
Health officials have reassured the public that there is currently no cause for alarm, emphasizing that the aggressive measures being implemented are precautionary and designed to ensure Kenya remains protected from the outbreak unfolding in the DRC.
The Government has urged citizens to remain vigilant, cooperate with health authorities and rely on official sources of information as efforts continue to safeguard the country against one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases.
