Health Cabinet Secretary has told the National Assembly that the government will not require public participation in emergency measures to contain potential Ebola outbreak threats, citing provisions under the Public Health Act.
Appearing before lawmakers, Duale stated that the law empowers the state to act swiftly during epidemics without citizen consultation.
“Under the Public Health Act, we don’t need to do public participation; we are not going to consult citizens. This epidemic does not require any consultation,” he said.
The CS was briefing the House on Kenya’s preparedness and surveillance systems in response to the regional threat posed by the Ebola Virus Disease.
He assured Parliament that Kenya currently has zero confirmed Ebola cases, emphasizing that the situation remains under control.
Duale further reported that enhanced screening measures are ongoing at 26 official Points of Entry across the country. According to the Ministry of Health, a cumulative 71,243 travelers have been screened so far, with 2,509 processed in the last 24 hours alone.
He added that all suspected cases identified through surveillance systems have been tested and confirmed negative, reinforcing Kenya’s current disease-free status.
The briefing comes amid heightened vigilance by health authorities following periodic Ebola alerts in the region, with border screening and monitoring systems intensified to prevent cross-border transmission.
