Kenya’s health sector leadership has reviewed the country’s disease detection and response systems in a high-level meeting focused on preparedness against Ebola Virus Disease and other public health threats.
The meeting, held on Monday, June 8, 2026, brought together Chief Executive Officers of Semi-Autonomous Government Agencies (SAGAs), as well as heads of directorates, divisions and units under the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards.
It was chaired by Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni, and focused on strengthening coordination between agencies, reviewing progress, and aligning priorities for the 2026/27 financial year.
The core focus of these discussions was the disease surveillance and response system of Kenya; an infrastructure through which disease outbreaks are identified and responded to before they spread to large populations.
This forum allowed officials to discuss national readiness for Ebola Virus Disease with respect to surveillance, laboratories, risk communication, and response plans in various agencies that play a role in health emergencies.
It was also an opportunity for various directorates and SAGAs to highlight their strategic priorities, successes, and challenges; placing more importance on those aspects of their operations that necessitated improved collaboration.
According to the State Department, the objective of this discussion was to improve coordination in the health sector and enhance the response time to threats.
In this regard, PS Muthoni highlighted the importance of having a well-coordinated response, increased vigilance, and quick action in order to protect the country from any disease outbreak.
The meeting also helped align priorities ahead of the 2026/27 financial year as Kenya continues to strengthen its public health preparedness systems.
