The Ministry of Health has suspended hotel-based meetings, seminars and conferences organised by the State Department for Public Health as the government steps up efforts to contain an imported case of Ebola in Kenya.
The directive, issued by Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni Muriuki through an internal memo seen by Vantage Ke, took effect immediately on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, and will remain in force until further notice.
"Following confirmation of an imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease, the State Department is prioritising emergency preparedness, contact tracing and response measures," the notice read.
"Accordingly, all meetings, seminars and conferences scheduled to be held in hotels are suspended with immediate effect from Wednesday, 7th October 2026, until further notice," it added.
In a clarification seen by this publication, the Ministry of Health however explained that the directive applies specifically to heads of directorates, divisions and programmes within the State Department for Public Health, rather than the entire government.
The suspension is intended to allow the department to concentrate its resources on emergency preparedness, contact tracing and other interventions to contain the outbreak and prevent further transmission.
Muriuki directed all directorates, divisions and programmes to implement existing standard operating procedures for the prevention, preparedness and management of Ebola and other highly contagious infectious diseases.
Officials who wish to hold meetings in hotels despite the suspension must first obtain approval from the PS's office. "Any exception shall require prior approval from this Office," the memo stated.
Muriuki also instructed departmental heads to ensure strict compliance with the directive while keeping technical officers available to support ongoing emergency response operations.
Kenya Confirms Imported Ebola Case
The directive follows the confirmation on Tuesday, October 6, of an imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease, a rare form of Ebola.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the patient was a Kenyan national who had lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for seven years. According to Duale, the patient developed symptoms about a month before the confirmation and sought treatment at several hospitals before travelling by road to Kampala, Uganda, and subsequently flying to Nairobi.
The patient arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on October 3 and underwent routine health screening before being taken to Nairobi Hospital.
He was isolated after presenting with fever, fatigue, muscle pain, a sore throat and bleeding at injection sites. Despite receiving supportive medical care, the patient died.
Following the confirmation, President William Ruto directed the National Security Council Committee to convene and recommend urgent measures to protect the country from the spread of Ebola.
State House Introduces Ebola Safety Measures
The latest health measures also come amid heightened precautions at State House, where enhanced protocols have been introduced to protect visitors, including Cabinet Secretaries, against possible Ebola infection.
Images shared by State House on Friday, October 9, showed Cabinet Secretaries sanitising their hands at the entrance before attending a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Ruto.
Earlier in the week, Ruto hosted a graduation ceremony for the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) on the State House grounds, where guests underwent health screenings conducted by Nairobi City County health officials.
The developments reflect growing efforts by government institutions to strengthen preventive measures following the confirmation of the imported case, as health authorities prioritise outbreak containment and preparedness.
