Africa CDC Commits $1.5mn to Support Kenya’s Ebola Response

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 28 — The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has mobilised approximately $1.5 million in financial, technical and operational support to strengthen Kenya’s response to the Ebola outbreak.

The commitment follows a meeting between Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya in Nairobi, where Duale briefed the continental health agency on measures Kenya has taken to contain the outbreak.

Kaseya commended Kenya’s leadership and response, citing rapid mobilisation, early detection, timely interventions, enhanced surveillance and coordinated national action.

The support includes the deployment of 10 African public health experts, laboratory reagents and diagnostic test kits, as well as assistance with surveillance, contact tracing, case management and community engagement.

Africa CDC will also provide specialised equipment to reinforce the country’s outbreak response capacity.

An additional $350,000 has been allocated to strengthen Kenya’s Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, which coordinates preparedness and response to public health emergencies.

The investment is expected to enhance the centre’s capacity to coordinate emergency operations and support a more effective response to health threats.

Kaseya reaffirmed Africa CDC’s commitment to working with Kenya to protect the population and reduce the risk of cross-border transmission.

Both leaders underscored the importance of continental solidarity, timely resource mobilisation and coordinated action in responding to public health emergencies, noting that no country can effectively tackle such threats alone.

As part of efforts to strengthen the regional response, Africa CDC convened an extraordinary meeting of African health ministers on October 28, 2026, to assess the Ebola situation, reinforce coordination and agree on urgent containment and prevention measures.

Kenya has been implementing surveillance, detection and containment measures as health authorities work to limit the spread of the virus and protect communities.