The Ministry of Health has suspended all meetings, seminars and conferences scheduled to take place in hotels following confirmation of Kenya’s first imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease.
In an internal memo dated Wednesday, October 7, 2026, Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni directed all heads of directorates, divisions and programmes to immediately halt the activities until further notice.
“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,” the memo reads.
A memo communicating ban of hotel meetings
Muthoni further directed that any exceptions to the suspension must receive prior approval from her office.
Ministry orders strict compliance
The Principal Secretary instructed all departments to activate established standard operating procedures for preventing, preparing for and managing Ebola and other highly infectious diseases.
She emphasised that the ministry was prioritising emergency preparedness, contact tracing and response measures to prevent further transmission.
“All Heads of Directorates, Divisions and Programmes shall ensure strict compliance and the availability of technical officers to support the ongoing emergency response operations,” Muthoni directed.
Ebola in Kenya: Govt bans public meetings immediately. Photo/https://web.facebook.com/MinstryofHealthKE
The memo was copied to Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.
Ebola outbreak in Kenya
The directive follows the confirmation of an imported Bundibugyo Ebola case on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, involving a Kenyan national who had travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The patient arrived in Nairobi on October 3 and was subsequently admitted to Nairobi Hospital, where laboratory tests confirmed the infection. He later died.
On October 7, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale clarified that Kenya was not experiencing a domestic Ebola outbreak despite recording the imported case.
Ebola in Kenya: Govt bans public meetings immediately. Photo/https://web.facebook.com/MinstryofHealthKE
Health authorities identified 57 contacts linked to the patient and intensified surveillance, contact tracing and quarantine measures to prevent further infections.
The ministry has maintained that strengthened preparedness and early detection remain critical to containing the public health threat.
