US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks with President William Ruto on the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the region, with Washington pledging fresh financial support to bolster Kenya’s preparedness and response measures.
In a statement attributed to State Department Spokesperson Tommy Pigott, Rubio and Ruto discussed coordination between the United States and Kenya in strengthening public health systems amid growing regional concern over the spread of Ebola.
The United States Government announced its intention to commit $13.5 million towards Kenya’s Ebola preparedness efforts.
The funding will support efforts to secure vital medical supplies and reinforce the country’s health response capacity.
Washington also noted that it has already committed $112 million in bilateral assistance to support the wider regional Ebola response.
“The Secretary and President Ruto discussed coordinated efforts to secure vital medical supplies for Kenya and ensure the strength and preparedness of Kenya’s health system,” the statement said.
The conversation comes as Kenya heightens surveillance and preparedness measures following outbreaks reported in neighbouring countries, amid concerns over cross-border transmission due to regional travel and trade links.
Rubio and Ruto agreed to maintain close coordination as the situation evolves and to continue leveraging the long-standing health partnership between the two countries, which has previously played a key role in responding to public health emergencies across East Africa.
According to the statement, the United States said its “highest priority remains protecting the health and security of the American people by working to prevent the Ebola outbreak from reaching our shores.”
Kenya has in recent weeks intensified screening at border points, airports, and health facilities, while engaging international partners and regional agencies to strengthen preparedness and rapid response mechanisms.
President Ruto reiterated that Kenya would continue acting transparently, responsibly, and decisively to safeguard lives while contributing to regional and global health security efforts.
To further strengthen preparedness and coordination, the Government announced plans to establish a National Response Committee under the leadership of the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.
The committee will coordinate a whole-of-government and whole-of-society response, enhance public awareness and preparedness, and mobilise technical and financial resources required to respond to any eventualities arising from the Ebola outbreak.
Kenya has provided written approval for the U.S. to open a quarantine facility in the East African nation for Americans exposed to the Ebola outbreak centred in the Democratic Republic of Congo, two U.S. officials briefed on the response said.
The authorisation grants the U.S. access to land at an air force base in Laikipia in central Kenya, one of the officials said.
Kenya had been pushing for the facility to be open to all nationalities, not just U.S. citizens. It was not immediately clear if that would be the case.
The facility would be staffed by members of the U.S. Public Health Service, a uniformed branch of the Department of Health and Human Services.
In a statement on Wednesday, Kenya’s health ministry said it was in discussions with the U.S. and other global partners about cooperating on the response to Ebola but did not mention the plan for a quarantine facility.
One American doctor infected with Ebola and several other U.S. citizens exposed to the virus have been sent to Germany for treatment and monitoring. Another American doctor exposed to the virus was sent to Czech Republic.
