Kakamega to Establish Two Ebola Quarantine Centres as Kenya Ramps Up Disease Preparedness
The Kakamega County Government has announced plans to establish two Ebola quarantine centres as Kenya intensifies efforts to prepare for any potential outbreak of the deadly viral disease.
The move comes amid growing concerns over recurring Ebola outbreaks in parts of East and Central Africa, prompting health authorities across the region to strengthen surveillance and emergency response measures.
Speaking on Friday, June 5, Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula revealed that the decision was approved during a recent county cabinet meeting following consultations with the Ministry of Health.
Savula said county leaders had assessed the threat posed by Ebola and agreed that proactive measures were necessary to protect residents and prevent the disease from spreading into Kenya.
“We have already had a session and discussed how we are prepared to tackle the Ebola disease that is threatening the East African region,” Savula said.
“We have agreed in our meeting that we must be prepared and send public officers to curb the disease in Kenya and the East African region.”
According to the Deputy Governor, the county administration has fully backed the Ministry of Health’s preparedness strategy, including the establishment of isolation and quarantine facilities capable of handling suspected Ebola cases should the need arise.
“In Kakamega County, we are setting up two stations, and the cabinet has decided that we are going to have those centres where those who have the disease will be quarantined,” he added.
Savula explained that Kakamega was selected due to its strategic geographical position as a major transit corridor connecting western Kenya to neighbouring countries and key urban centres.
“We agreed to set up two Ebola quarantine centres in Kakamega County because it is a transit area along Busia, Bungoma and Eldoret,” he stated.
Health officials have repeatedly warned that counties located along major transport routes face a heightened risk of infectious diseases crossing borders through human movement and trade.
The announcement comes barely two weeks after Kenya and the United States agreed to establish a 50-bed Ebola quarantine and bio-isolation facility at the Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki.
The proposed facility, which was backed by the United States government, was designed to provide emergency triage, testing and isolation services for American citizens, contractors and peacekeepers who may be exposed to Ebola while operating in the region.
However, the project has since encountered legal hurdles after the High Court temporarily suspended its implementation pending the hearing and determination of a petition challenging its establishment.
The court case emerged amid public concern and political debate over the facility’s purpose, location and potential implications for local communities.
Despite the backlash, President William Ruto has defended the project, maintaining that the facility forms part of Kenya’s broader disease preparedness framework and is intended to enhance the country’s ability to respond swiftly to future health emergencies.
The latest move by Kakamega County signals a growing nationwide push to strengthen preparedness against Ebola and other infectious diseases, even as Kenya remains free of any confirmed outbreak.
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