Kenya has received a Sh259 million grant from China to strengthen Ebola preparedness and support drought mitigation, as the government steps up emergency measures following the country’s reported first imported Ebola case.
The grant was officially handed over to the National Treasury on Thursday, October 8, by China’s Ambassador to Kenya, Guo Haiyan.
Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo confirmed the funding, saying the assistance would support the government’s efforts to prepare for potential Ebola outbreaks and respond to drought.
“Welcomed H.E. Amb. Guo Haiyan, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Kenya, at the National Treasury for the official handing over of a USD 2 million (Ksh259 million) grant from the Government of China to the Government of Kenya,” Kiptoo stated.
How Kenya Will Spend the Sh259 Million
The grant will be split equally between the two emergency priorities.
- Sh129.5 million will go towards drought mitigation efforts.
- Sh129.5 million will support Ebola preparedness and response measures.
The funding comes as Kenya strengthens disease surveillance and emergency response systems while addressing the effects of drought in vulnerable communities.
Kenya Steps Up Ebola Response
The Chinese grant follows reports of Kenya’s first imported Ebola virus case, which was confirmed on Tuesday, October 6.
According to the information provided by health authorities, the patient was a Kenyan man who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He travelled to Nairobi through Uganda before being isolated at Nairobi Hospital.
The patient later died and was buried, according to the Health Cabinet Secretary.
Following the confirmation, the government intensified efforts to identify and monitor people who may have been exposed to the virus.
Authorities have reportedly identified contacts, including family members, healthcare workers who attended to the patient and people who travelled with him, and placed them under isolation or monitoring as part of containment measures.
Government Seeks Additional Emergency Funding
Beyond the Chinese grant, Kenya has been pursuing additional resources to strengthen its response to the outbreak.
The government has sought Sh51.8 billion (US$400 million) in emergency financing from the World Bank under its Rapid Response Option.
The National Treasury has also set aside an initial Sh2.6 billion for emergency response as the government mobilises further funding.
In addition, the Treasury is expecting Sh21 billion from the United States government under a direct assistance commitment by the US Department of State to support efforts against the outbreak.
The latest grant from China provides additional support for two pressing challenges: strengthening Kenya’s capacity to respond to a potential public health emergency and helping communities affected by drought.
The effectiveness of the measures will depend on how quickly the funding is deployed and how effectively the relevant agencies coordinate their response.
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