New details have emerged showing how Ebola fears reached State House and eventually changed President William Ruto’s travel plans.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale disclosed that President Ruto had been expected to travel to Congo-Brazzaville in May for a regional conference.
However, health experts advised against the trip over Ebola concerns.
Instead of travelling, Ruto was forced to deliver his speech virtually after officials warned that returning to Kenya would have triggered a mandatory 21-day quarantine.
Duale also disclosed that members of the President’s advance team had already travelled before the trip was cancelled.
Upon returning to Kenya, they were immediately placed under quarantine for three weeks.
The disclosure came while the government was defending the construction of an Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Airbase, a project that has recently attracted criticism and legal battles.
According to Duale, the decision was based purely on technical advice from health experts and not politics.
The Health Ministry has maintained that Kenya cannot afford to lower its guard because of the movement of people between countries in Central and East Africa.
Although Congo-Brazzaville has not announced any confirmed Ebola cases, authorities said regional outbreaks in neighbouring countries present a possible risk that requires strict monitoring.
The government says the 21-day isolation period follows international health guidelines because Ebola symptoms may take time before appearing.
Kenya has not recorded any confirmed Ebola infections so far. However, authorities have intensified preparedness measures by increasing screening at entry points, training health workers and preparing isolation centres across the country.
The latest disclosure now offers a rare glimpse into how Ebola concerns reached the highest levels of government and even affected State House travel arrangements.
