President William Ruto has defended the hosting of a US Ebola health facility at Laikipia Air Base, saying it boosts global health security and pandemic response.
Speaking during a media roundtable at the Wajir State Lodge, the president said: "We have deployed every arsenal that we have to make sure that we protect Kenya, that we deal with the challenge. We have made preparations for isolation units, for surveillance, for treatment."
The President said Kenya is currently screening an average of 3,000 visitors to the country at all entry points daily, with no single case recorded so far.
President Ruto defends Ebola preparedness facility at Laikipia air base
“When President Trump asked the government of Kenya to support them by having a centre at Laikipia Air Base, I gave the okay because it was an agreement and a partnership with friends who have worked with Kenya for 30 or 40 years. The American government has supported us," Dr Ruto said last night.
“They have deployed huge resources in Kenya to work with us on HIV/Aids and other diseases. They worked with us on Ebola. In fact, Kemri was one of the institutions that worked on research on the vaccines for Covid because we have a solid partnership with America and other partners,” he added.
He noted that the quarantine facility being established at Laikipia Air Base with support from the United States is part of a broader national preparedness strategy.
He reiterated that the facility exist solely to protect the health and well-being of Kenyans and others and to ensure that the nation responds swiftly and effectively to public health emergencies.
He termed the facility as neither unique nor exceptional, but one of 23 such centres under Kenya’s disease preparedness framework.
He stated that similar facilities have been established at Kenyatta National Hospital (Nairobi), the National Police Service Hospital (Nairobi), Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (Eldoret), Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (Nairobi/Kiambu), and Alupe Hospital (Busia) among others.
Dr Ruto said the centres are intended solely to support screening, isolation and treatment in the event of an outbreak.
He urged leaders and stakeholders not to politicise public health interventions, saying preparedness remains a critical component of national security and public safety.
"I am wondering why anybody would want to politicise a matter so serious as a pandemic. We are a responsibile government, and we know what we are doing," he said.
