Ni uchungu sana: Pastor Kanyari reacts to govt plan to host US Ebola patients
By Steve Ireri, May 31, 2026Salvation Healing Ministry founder Pastor Victor Kanyari has weighed in on the growing public debate surrounding Kenya’s health preparedness measures, expressing concern over reports that Ebola patients from the United States could be brought into the country and quarantined in Laikipia.
Speaking during his Sunday, May 31, 2026, service, Kanyari said he had heard claims that Ebola patients were being transported into Kenya as part of a government-linked health arrangement, a move he described as painful and worrying to many citizens.
“And I have heard that Ebola patients are being brought here in our country. And I hear they are being taken to Laikipia. It’s so painful,” he said.
His remarks come amid ongoing clarification from the Ministry of Health over the establishment of a health and isolation facility in Laikipia County, which has sparked mixed reactions and public speculation.
In an interview on a local TV station on Saturday, May 30, 2026, Duale said the planned facility is a military installation that will serve both Kenyan and American nationals, particularly personnel operating in high-risk regions, and forms part of Kenya’s broader preparedness strategy against infectious disease outbreaks.
The CS sought to address growing concerns and speculation surrounding the project, insisting that the facility is intended to strengthen Kenya’s public health security and not to import Ebola patients into the country.
“In the DRC, where the epicentre of Ebola is, I had an opportunity to visit there when I was Defence CS. Over 350 KDF soldiers are working for the UN today. We have a huge population of Kenyans working in DRC,” Duale stated.
“Why is it said we’re bringing Ebola patients to Laikipia? The facility is a military facility. KDF soldiers and other Kenyans will use that facility.”
The CS noted that Kenya’s participation in global health security initiatives requires the country to maintain robust preparedness systems capable of responding to infectious disease threats affecting both citizens and international partners.
He also defended Kenya’s longstanding health partnership with the United States, noting that American support has played a significant role in strengthening the country’s healthcare system over the years.
“If there’s one country that has contributed between 25 and 35 per cent of the health budget since independence, it is the US. That’s why today, the cooperation agreement we’ve signed is worth Ksh206 billion,” he said.
Duale added that institutions such as the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) have benefited significantly from international partnerships, helping Kenya build some of the region’s strongest laboratory and disease surveillance systems.