Kenya is preparing to receive another shipment of emergency medical supplies from India as health authorities strengthen measures to keep the deadly Ebola virus out of the country.
The fresh support comes as the outbreak in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo continues to spread, prompting the government to step up surveillance, screening and emergency response.
The latest consignment will be the second from India after the Ministry of Health on Wednesday received medical supplies worth Sh60 million at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The donation is part of efforts to improve Kenya's readiness to detect and manage any Ebola case should the disease cross the border.
The first delivery weighed 4.5 tonnes and contained 279 packages of emergency medical equipment. Among the supplies were Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits, sample transportation kits, infrared thermometers, face shields, heavy-duty protective boots and other materials used to prevent the spread of infections.
Ministry of Health officials led by CS Aden Duale receiving medical supplies at from India on July 23, 2026.
PHOTO/MoH
The India High Commission in Nairobi said another batch of medical assistance will arrive soon to further strengthen Kenya's preparedness against Ebola and improve the country's response to future disease outbreaks.
The additional support comes as the Africa Centre for Disease Control warns that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is escalating and could rank among the worst epidemics in history if it is not contained.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said Kenya has already screened more than 270,000 travellers entering the country through temperature checks and self-declaration of possible Ebola symptoms.
"So far, we haven’t recorded any case in the country," he said.
Duale said the government has activated 21 quarantine centres across the country after plans to establish a quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base were stopped following a court order.
He said the government will not make public the locations of the quarantine and isolation centres because doing so could discourage Kenyans from seeking medical care at those facilities.
"We won’t disclose where our quarantine centres are. Under the Public Health Act, if I say this hospital is a quarantine facility, Kenyans will avoid that hospital. We are now working with the remaining 21 quarantine centres after Laikipia was halted," he said.
The donation from India adds to support already received from the World Health Organization and other development partners as Kenya strengthens its disease surveillance and emergency response systems.
Director General for Health Patrick Amoth said the equipment will help improve the country's ability to respond to a possible Ebola outbreak.
"The donation will improve the country’s preparedness score from 60 to 80. The resources will be put to good use and distributed to all the necessary areas across the country," Amoth said.
Duale thanked India for standing with Kenya during the current public health threat, saying the assistance reflects the close partnership between the two countries.
"We have received this donation from India, and it reflects the strong friendship between our two countries and the power of international solidarity in strengthening global health security," he said.
The Indian High Commission said the medical supplies are intended to help Kenya respond to the current Ebola threat while also improving the country's long-term capacity to handle future infectious disease outbreaks and pandemics.