Kenya’s Ebola preparedness score has climbed to as high as 90 percent as the Ministry of Health races to shore up defenses against a Bundibugyo virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has now killed more than 3,200 people. The country has not recorded a single confirmed case, but officials say readiness, not luck, is what has kept it that way.
The Kenya National Public Health Institute (KNPHI) says the country’s preparedness index rose from 66 percent in April to nearly 90 percent by mid-August, driven by simulation exercises, expanded laboratory capacity and stepped-up surveillance at points of entry. A separate briefing from the Ministry’s Public Health department put the figure at 81 percent as of August 18, underscoring that the number keeps moving as new measures come online.
How bad is the outbreak in DRC right now?
As of September 7, the World Health Organization and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control put confirmed cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo at 6,686, with 3,226 deaths. That is up from 6,250 cases and 3,039 deaths just a week earlier, on September 1 — a pace public health officials describe as among the fastest of any Ebola outbreak on record. Kenyans.co.ke reported in August that the virus was claiming a life roughly every 30 minutes in the DRC at the peak of the surge.
The strain responsible, Bundibugyo virus, has no approved vaccine or targeted treatment, which is part of why WHO declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern in May and why Africa CDC has flagged Kenya among nine countries at elevated cross-border risk, alongside Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Burundi, Angola and the Central African Republic.
What has Kenya actually done to prepare?
According to Principal Secretary for Public Health Mary Muthoni, more than 450,000 inbound travelers have now been screened at Kenyan points of entry, including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and land border crossings with Uganda and Tanzania. Every one of the 196 suspected alerts flagged nationally through mid-August tested negative — a running tally that has climbed steadily from the 59 negative samples reported back in June, as 254.ke reported when the screening count first crossed 140,000.
Other measures the Ministry has confirmed include:
- Laboratory capacity: The National Virology Reference Laboratory, KEMRI facilities and mobile labs stationed in Busia and Bungoma now handle rapid Ebola testing.
- Digital surveillance: A WhatsApp-based tool, the UHAI chatbot, is being used to flag potential symptoms and speed up contact tracing.
- Protective equipment: More than 15,000 units of personal protective equipment, sanitiser, thermometers and biosafety gear have been distributed to high-risk counties.
- Funding: The United States has pledged roughly Ksh31 billion (about $242 million) toward East Africa’s Ebola response, part of which is earmarked for strengthening Kenya’s border screening and treatment facilities.
The counties the Ministry classifies as highest risk — due to border proximity and travel volume — include Nairobi, Mombasa, Busia, Bungoma, Kisumu, Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Siaya, Migori, Kisii and Turkana, with several more counties under elevated but lower-tier alert.
Why is the Laikipia facility still controversial?
Much of the public anxiety around Ebola in Kenya this year has centered less on the disease itself than on a US-backed 50-bed quarantine facility built at Laikipia Air Base, originally intended to isolate Americans exposed to the virus while working in the DRC or Uganda. Kenya’s High Court issued a conservatory order in May halting construction after the Law Society of Kenya and the Katiba Institute sued, arguing the project bypassed public participation requirements and could strain an already stretched health system.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, who has also led a separate crackdown on unlicensed clinics this year, was found in contempt of court in June for allowing work to continue despite the order, and later told the court construction had stopped. President William Ruto has defended the facility as one of 24 preparedness centers established for outbreak response and part of a long-standing health and security partnership with the United States. Former Law Society of Kenya president Faith Odhiambo has continued to press the government for transparency over who authorized the arrangement.
Frequently asked questions
Has Kenya recorded any Ebola cases?
No. As of early September 2026, Kenya has not reported a single confirmed case. All suspected alerts investigated so far have tested negative.
Which Kenyan counties are considered highest risk?
The Ministry of Health lists Nairobi, Mombasa, Busia, Bungoma, Kisumu, Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Siaya, Migori, Kisii and Turkana among the highest-risk counties because of border proximity and travel volume.
Is there a vaccine for this outbreak?
Not yet. The Bundibugyo strain circulating in the DRC has no WHO-approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment, though candidates are in early development.
What should travelers expect at Kenyan airports and borders?
Enhanced screening, including temperature checks and health questionnaires, remains in place at JKIA and major land border crossings, alongside the UHAI WhatsApp reporting tool for anyone who develops symptoms after travel from an affected area.
By the 254.ke Newsroom
