Kenya: 'No Ebola Billionaires' Says Duale

What the report says

Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the government will tighten oversight of Ebola-related spending to stop corruption and profiteering, warning that there will be no “Ebola billionaires” during the country’s response to the outbreak. His remarks were reported in Nairobi during a visit to Meru County, where he attended the commissioning of a new maternity wing at Uruku Health Centre.

According to Capital FM, Kenya confirmed its first imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola virus disease on October 6 after a Kenyan who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo travelled through Uganda to Nairobi. The patient later died, and health authorities moved to trace contacts, strengthen surveillance and isolate exposed individuals. Officials have said the cases identified so far are tied to the same cluster and that there is no evidence of wider community transmission.

Duale linked the warning to past concerns over alleged misuse of public money during health emergencies, including Kenya’s COVID-19 response. He said procurement and spending related to Ebola would be closely monitored to protect public resources. The broader significance is that Kenya is trying to contain a serious infectious disease while also addressing public concerns about accountability in emergency spending. Capital FM also reported that the new maternity wing, built with support from the Safaricom M-PESA Foundation, is intended to expand maternal and child health services in the area.