The government has confirmed that 37 Kenyans returning from the Congo region have been placed under quarantine as authorities heighten surveillance measures to prevent Ebola from crossing into the country.
Medical Services Principal Secretary Ouma Oluga said the individuals were identified through routine public health monitoring and are currently under observation as part of Kenya’s disease prevention strategy.
Speaking on NTV on Tuesday, Oluga said the group comprises Kenyans working in sectors such as banking, logistics, mining and other businesses in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring countries.
“We already quarantined 37 Kenyans who are from Congo,” Oluga said.
He emphasized that the move should not cause alarm, describing quarantine as a standard public health measure used globally to monitor individuals who may have been exposed to infectious diseases.
“This is a quarantine. You know what quarantine is. We have a number of institutions, by the way,” he said.
The PS noted that Kenya maintains extensive economic ties with the DRC, where thousands of Kenyans are employed by banks, multinational companies and humanitarian organisations.
“We have two banks. KCB alone has almost 800 employees in the DRC, the same with Equity, and we have all these Kenyans who are coming in,” he explained.
Oluga said Kenya’s position as East Africa’s transport and aviation hub makes it a critical player in regional disease surveillance and emergency response efforts.
“For you to move a patient from DRC to the US, you have to pass through Kenya,” he said.
His remarks come amid heightened debate over the country’s Ebola preparedness, including a controversial proposed quarantine facility in Laikipia County that has sparked protests, political criticism and a court battle.
The High Court recently directed the Ministry of Health and the Attorney General to file a detailed report on the status of the project following a petition challenging its legality and implementation.
Despite growing public concern, health officials insist that Kenya has not reported a confirmed Ebola case and that surveillance systems, screening measures and quarantine protocols remain active as part of efforts to keep the country safe.
The government has repeatedly maintained that preparedness remains crucial given Kenya’s close trade, transport and people-to-people links with countries that have previously experienced Ebola outbreaks.