Kenya has already placed 37 citizens returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) under quarantine as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s preparedness against Ebola, Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr. Ouma Oluga has revealed.
Speaking amid growing public debate over Kenya’s Ebola response measures, Dr. Oluga defended the government’s investment in quarantine and surveillance capacity, arguing that the country’s economic and security interests in the DRC make preparedness unavoidable.
According to the PS, Kenya maintains extensive links with the central African nation, including military deployments and business operations that result in regular cross-border movement of people.
He noted that the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has personnel serving in the DRC, while major Kenyan financial institutions, including KCB and Equity Bank, employ hundreds of Kenyans in the country.
“As a country, we have significant interests in the DRC, both from a security and economic perspective, and there is constant movement of Kenyans between the two countries,” Oluga said.
The PS disclosed that among those already quarantined are business leaders and professionals who had been working in the DRC before returning to Kenya.
“We have already quarantined 37 Kenyans returning from the DRC, including business leaders and professionals working in the region,” he said.
The revelation comes at a time when the government’s Ebola preparedness plans have attracted heightened scrutiny, with questions being raised about the country’s readiness to handle a potential outbreak and the establishment of quarantine and isolation facilities.
Oluga maintained that strengthening quarantine and isolation infrastructure is a critical public health measure aimed at safeguarding citizens and preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
He argued that preparedness efforts should be guided by scientific evidence and expert advice rather than public anxiety.
“Strengthening quarantine and isolation facilities is necessary to protect citizens and prevent the spread of disease,” he said.
The PS added that decisions on disease surveillance, quarantine protocols and outbreak response mechanisms are best left to health professionals and experts tasked with protecting public health.
His remarks come as Kenya continues to monitor regional disease outbreaks and enhance its emergency response systems, given its position as a regional transport, trade and diplomatic hub with extensive connections across East and Central Africa.
Health authorities have repeatedly emphasized that preparedness measures, including surveillance, screening and quarantine facilities, are intended to minimize risks associated with cross-border disease transmission while ensuring the country can respond effectively in the event of an outbreak.
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