Duale: We will not conduct public participation on Ebola
By Mabonga Makhanu, June 3, 2026Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has ruled out public participation in matters related to the Ebola pandemic, which has been reported in neighbouring countries and could potentially find its way into Kenya.
Appearing before the National Assembly on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, Duale insisted that the government would not conduct public participation on measures aimed at preventing and containing the disease.
According to Duale, the Public Health Act does not require public participation in the management of epidemics and other public health emergencies.
“Under the Public Health Act, we don’t need to do public participation. We are not going to consult citizens. Even members of Parliament here, when they fall sick, they rush to their doctor to make sure they get the best treatment,” Duale stated.
The CS argued that disease outbreaks such as Ebola require swift action from health authorities and not consultations that could delay interventions.
“This epidemic does not require any consultation. Tomorrow, God forbid, if Ebola is found in this country, this House will call me back here to this chair to ask me why Kenyans are dying,” he added.
Govt’s intervention
Duale maintained that the government has a constitutional and moral obligation to protect citizens before infections occur and before lives are lost.
“So before Kenyans die, before Kenyans are infected, we as a government have a moral, constitutional responsibility to protect both Kenyans and other people who are non-Kenyans who live within our border or who transit within our country,” he added.
His remarks come amid heightened surveillance and preparedness efforts by the Ministry of Health following reports of Ebola cases in neighbouring countries.
Ebola preparedness
His junior health PS, Mary Muthoni, had earlier intimated that Kenya has not recorded any confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), even as it steps up surveillance and preparedness measures amid ongoing outbreaks in parts of the neighbouring countries.
She further noted that the country remains on high alert and has strengthened measures to prevent the importation and spread of the deadly disease.
“Kenya has not recorded any confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). We updated on the country’s state of preparedness: 25 suspected Ebola samples have been tested, and all returned negative results,” Muthoni said.