The Ministry of Health has suspended all its meetings, seminars, and conferences scheduled to take place in hotels, Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni confirmed to Kenyans.co.ke.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

In a memo dated Wednesday, October 7, 2026, PS Muthoni directed all heads of directorates, divisions and programmes to stop the meetings immediately until further notice.

This follows the confirmation of Kenya’s first imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola on October 6, prompting the government to strengthen health protocols.

According to the internal memo, any department seeking an exception must first obtain approval from her office, with ministry departments urged to follow safety procedures to manage the disease.

📌 What You Need to Know

"Following confirmation of an imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease, the State Department is prioritising emergency preparedness, contact tracing and response measures," the notice read.

"Accordingly, all meetings, seminars and conferences scheduled to be held in hotels are suspended with immediate effect from Wednesday, 7th October 2026, until further notice," it added.

Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke on Saturday, October 10, the Health PS said the government is increasing observations and preparing for any eventualities.

The suspension comes less than a week after the Ministry of Health confirmed Kenya’s first imported case of Ebola after a Kenyan who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) died after being admitted to Nairobi Hospital.

The patient reportedly fell ill about a month before travelling from the DRC through Uganda to Nairobi, where he arrived on October 3 and was taken to Nairobi Hospital for treatment.

Following the confirmation, Health officials launched contact tracing to identify people who may have come into contact with the patient, with 57 people already identified.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke