Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has defended Kenya’s heightened Ebola preparedness measures, saying the government cannot afford to lower its guard amid growing regional and global public health threats.

Speaking on Friday, May 29, 2026, during the State Department for Foreign Affairs Staff Wellness Day in Nairobi, Mudavadi said recent developments in the region had compelled the government to intensify consultations and preparedness planning, including high-level engagements led by President William Ruto with development partners and the United Nations system.

Although Kenya has not reported any confirmed Ebola cases, Mudavadi stressed that the country remains vulnerable because of its position as a regional hub for trade, diplomacy, travel and humanitarian operations.

“Preparedness must remain continuous and deliberate. We cannot afford complacency in the face of evolving global health threats,” Mudavadi said.

Even so, he noted that Kenya’s response strategy extends beyond the health sector, arguing that Ebola preparedness is also tied to national security and foreign policy considerations.

Mudavadi said the government is strengthening disease surveillance systems, emergency response mechanisms and health infrastructure to improve the country’s ability to detect and contain any potential outbreak.

Mudavadi also revealed that Kenya is in discussions with the United Nations (UN) to position the country as a key humanitarian and logistical coordination centre within the global South.

“We are engaging the United Nations with a view to ensuring that Kenya is not only a host of international agencies, but also a strategic hub for humanitarian coordination and logistical support,” he said.

He explained that such ambitions require strong national preparedness systems capable of responding to both domestic emergencies and international obligations.

“We are deliberately investing in preparedness capacity not only for national response, but also in recognition of Kenya’s responsibility within the international system,” he stated.

“This initiative contributes significantly to building a healthy, motivated and productive workforce, which is essential to the effective implementation of Kenya’s foreign policy mandate,” he said.

Mudavadi said the welfare of foreign service officers directly affects Kenya’s diplomatic effectiveness because of the demanding nature of their work.

“Our foreign service officers remain at the forefront of advancing Kenya’s interests internationally, and their well-being directly influences institutional effectiveness,” he said.

Quarantine pushback

Meanwhile, a Nairobi High Court has issued an order blocking the government and the Ministry of Health Cabinet Secretary, Aden Duale, from allowing the entrance of persons infected with the Ebola disease into Kenya.

The conservatory order issued by Justice Nyaundi Patricia has also blocked the AG and the health CS, or their agents and persons under their authority, from arranging any transfer of the people infected with Ebola.

Judge Nyaundi’s order, issued on Thursday, May 28, 2026, also restrains the government and the Health CS from receiving and facilitating the exposed people into Kenya until the petition filed by the Katiba Institute is heard and determined.

“A conservatory order is issued restraining the respondents (AG and CS Duale), whether by themselves, their agents, officers, or any persons acting under their authority, from admitting into, transferring to, receiving within, or facilitating the entry into Kenya of persons exposed to or infected with Ebola,” Judge Nyaundi has ordered.

The court has also temporarily blocked the Kenyan government from setting up an Ebola quarantine facility with the help of the United States of America (USA) until a petition filed challenging the facility by the Katiba Institute is heard.

Katiba Institute filed a petition seeking orders blocking the Attorney General (AG) Dorcas Oduor and the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Health, Aden Duale, listed as the respondents in the application, from setting up the facility for the highly severe and often fatal disease.

“A conservatory order is hereby issued restraining the respondents (AG Oduor and CS Duale) from establishing operational facilities or facilitating, approving, or permitting the establishment and operation of any Ebola exposure, quarantine, isolation, or treatment facility in Kenya pursuant to any arrangement with the United States of America or any foreign government or urgency pending the inter-parties hearing of the application,” Justice Nyaundi has ordered.

In the application, Katiba argues that the move by the government to set up the quarantine facility will expose citizens to avoidable loss of life and render these proceedings nugatory.

In addition, the petitioner avers that there was no public participation exercise carried out on the same, nor parliamentary oversight, nor full disclosure of its health, environmental, and security implications.