Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale’s responses to some of the country’s most pressing public health issues have left critical questions unresolved, with uncertainty lingering over the Laikipia Ebola quarantine facility, the Social Health Authority (SHA) financial challenges and the location of Ebola isolation centres.
Over the past several months, the Health CS has offered limited clarity on issues that directly affect the country’s disease preparedness and access to healthcare.
One of the biggest concerns has been the government’s handling of the Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base.
In June, despite the High Court issuing conservatory orders halting construction at the site, Duale insisted that no construction was taking place. Around the same time, satellite images reviewed by Reuters showed tents erected and vehicles stationed at the facility.
Weeks later, after reports emerged that an American humanitarian worker in the Democratic Republic of Congo had tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, attention returned to the Laikipia facility.
Reuters later reported that seven Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) staff members were being quarantined at the same facility, raising fresh questions about its operational status after the government had maintained that construction had stopped.
While receiving Ebola response equipment from India at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on July 22, Duale maintained that the government had complied with the court order.
“I made a commitment when I said I will respect the rule of law, we stopped construction, and we are only building the other 22 sites,” he said.
The Cabinet Secretary also reaffirmed that the government would not disclose the locations of Ebola isolation and quarantine facilities across the country.
Although he had previously said there were 23 Ebola quarantine centres, he cited the Public Health Act as the basis for withholding their locations.
“We will not disclose where our isolation and quarantine are, based on the Public Health Act, which allows me not to, and I will not announce this,” he said.
“I don’t care how you are going to report it.”
The decision has left unanswered questions about where Kenyans who suspect they have been exposed to Ebola should seek isolation or treatment if the need arises.
Questions have also persisted over the financial challenges facing the Social Health Authority (SHA).
During a press conference on delayed payments to private hospitals, Duale dismissed the existence of a letter indicating that healthcare facilities had not received the promised SHA payments.
“We do not have that letter. The person who wrote that letter has not told us; he has given it to you,” he said.
“You are bringing patients to your media house. Please turn Nation Media into a health centre. We will register you. We will give you a SHA portal. And we will deal with your claims.”
The Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA), which has also been seeking answers over the delayed payments, criticised the government's response.
“The CS Health has resorted to attacks on the private health sector and the media as the scapegoats for the flawed SHA model,” RUPHA said.
The association added, “In panic, they have decided to attack everyone instead of addressing the mistakes in the model.”
Earlier in April, Duale also warned that action would be taken against sponsors supporting a health reporting desk.
“We have written to your sponsors, and you will soon lose the funding. We will escalate the matter,” he said.
The status of the Laikipia Ebola facility, the undisclosed locations of Ebola isolation centres and delayed SHA payments to private hospitals remain unresolved, leaving key questions about the country's public health preparedness and healthcare financing unanswered despite repeated statements from the Health Ministry.
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