Also known as: Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni · Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni · Ms Muthoni · Mary Muthoni Muriuki · PS Mary Muthoni · Public Health PS Mary Muthoni · Muriuki · Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni
Principal Secretary for Health who defended SHA healthcare reforms and led Ebola preparedness assessments at Kenya's borders.
NAIROBI, Kenya May 30 – Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni has met the border management team at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to assess Kenya’s Ebola preparedness and containment measures at key entry points. …
… Separately, Public Health PS Mary Muthoni has urged society to rethink how it protects children, warning that old parenting approaches may not work in a fast-changing environment.
… Thankfully, Kenya's Public Health PS Mary Muthoni has directed counties to activate rapid response mechanisms and intensify screening at airports, seaports, land border crossings, and transit points.That is welcome. …
… teps up Ebola surveillance at entry points after outbreak reported in DRC and Uganda By Mary Muoki May 18, 2026 08:00 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Public Health and Professional Standards PS Mary Muthoni …
… In an advisory dated May 16, 2026, the Ministry of Health, State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni Muriuki warned that the outbreak reported in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo poses a significant regional public health …
… According to Principal Secretary, State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, Mary Muthoni, built environments are a critical tool for public health promotion and primary disease prevention. …
… – Nairobi Hospital Chapter, brought together healthcare professionals, nursing leaders, and partners under the theme “Our Nurses, Our Future: Empowered Nurses Save Lives.” Speaking during the celebrations, Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni …
… Speaking during the International Nurses Week 2026 celebrations at The Nairobi Hospital, Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni described nurses as the backbone of Kenya’s healthcare system and key players in achieving Universal Health Coverage …
Kenya heightens surveillance over Hantavirus threat - PS Mary Muthoni By Brian Kimani May 09, 2026 05:30 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Public Health and Professional Standards PS Mary Muthoni during a pas …
The government will deploy 6,360 healthcare interns across the country starting July 1, having committed Sh 9.3 billion towards the programme to strengthen Kenya's health workforce and advance Universal Health Coverage. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced the plans after meeting with health professional regulatory bodies to assess readiness for the 2026/2027 deployment.
Why it matters
Government deploys 6,360 healthcare interns nationwide from July with Sh9.3 billion commitment, strengthening health workforce for Universal Health Coverage.
The government will deploy 6,360 healthcare interns across the country starting July 1, having committed Sh 9.3 billion towards the programme to strengthen Kenya's health workforce and advance Universal Health Coverage. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced the plans after meeting with health professional regulatory bodies to assess readiness for the 2026/2027 deployment.
Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has asked the High Court to pardon him after being found guilty of contempt for establishing an Ebola quarantine facility at Nanyuki airbase despite two court orders halting the process. Duale's legal team argued that his actions were driven by public health concerns regarding risks posed by soldiers returning from a UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
President Ruto announced that Kenya will launch its first National Ambulance Dispatch Centre next month, making it the second African country with a nationally coordinated ambulance dispatch system. The centre will coordinate ambulance services through a digital platform integrated into national health infrastructure and is expected to handle 100,000 emergency evacuations annually.
Kenya remains at high risk of importing the Budibugyo Ebola virus currently affecting parts of the DRC and Uganda, which have recorded 141 deaths. The Ministry of Health has confirmed no cases in Kenya but emphasized strict vigilance and has deployed containment systems including a standby surge team of over 300 healthcare officers across 25 high-risk counties.
Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni defended the Social Health Authority's healthcare model as expanding access compared to the defunct NHIF, saying 20 percent benefited under NHIF versus immediate eligibility under SHA. She urged leaders to stop politicizing health matters and praised Community Health Promoters for supporting SHA rollout through registration and preventive services.
Kenya has recorded no confirmed Ebola cases despite heightened surveillance, according to the Public Health Principal Secretary. The government has tested about 90 samples, all negative, and intensified screening at major entry points including JKIA and six gazetted border crossings.
Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale stated the government will comply with a court order temporarily halting the establishment of an Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki, but warned he may invoke Public Health Act powers to enforce stricter measures if a positive case is confirmed in Kenya.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki says the government is alert and ready to handle any reported Ebola case, with adequate resources allocated for surveillance at entry points, isolation centres, equipment, and personnel training. He warned against politicization of preventive measures.
Kenya is intensifying Ebola preparedness measures by establishing fully operational quarantine centres in high-risk areas and heightening surveillance at the Malaba Border following reported cases in Uganda. The Ministry of Health has equipped border health teams with screening equipment and enhanced laboratory capacity in Nairobi and Kisumu for rapid testing and diagnosis.
Kenya's Ministry of Health dismissed reports of a suspected Ebola case involving a Turkish national admitted to a Kenyan health facility. Laboratory tests confirmed the patient tested negative for Ebola virus, and the Ministry said it remains on high alert regarding the regional public health situation.
Tea farmers in Kirinyaga have raised concerns over a proposed levy by the Tea Board of Kenya, saying it will cut their earnings and increase their burden. They are calling on the government to allow them to export tea directly from Sagana instead of through Mombasa.
The Ministry of Health ruled out an Ebola case after a Turkish national presenting with Ebola-like symptoms tested negative at AAR Hospital in Kiambu. Laboratory tests on 18 samples from Ebola alerts across several counties have all tested negative.
The Ministry of Health says Kenya is considering imposing a mandatory 21-day quarantine for travellers arriving from high-risk countries as part of enhanced Ebola prevention measures. Incoming travellers may also be required to present certified exit surveillance reports from their countries of origin alongside detailed screening documentation.
Kenya's Ministry of Health has designated 25 counties as either 'very high risk' or 'high risk' for Ebola, including Nairobi, Mombasa, and border counties, amid outbreaks in neighbouring Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The government is maintaining high alert at 26 points of entry and monitoring 10 neighbouring countries, though no positive cases have been reported in Kenya.
Anti-riot police clashed with hundreds of protesters in Nanyuki on Monday during demonstrations against a proposed Ebola quarantine and isolation facility at Laikipia Airbase, firing tear gas and warning shots to disperse crowds as confrontations escalated from initially peaceful marches.
Hundreds of residents in Nanyuki staged a protest on Monday against the proposed establishment of an Ebola quarantine and isolation facility at Laikipia Airbase. Security forces cordoned off the military installation, forcing demonstrators to redirect their procession toward Nanyuki town, where the largely peaceful protest caused localized disruptions including traffic congestion and business interruptions.
Kenya's Public Health PS Mary Muthoni Muriuki reported on May 31 that the country has recorded no confirmed cases of Ebola Virus Disease, with 18 samples from Ebola alerts across eight counties testing negative. The government has identified 25 counties as being at elevated risk, with 12 classified as very high risk and 13 as high risk, while testing continues at four designated laboratories.
The government confirmed that there are no confirmed cases of Ebola Virus Disease in Kenya, after testing 16 suspected cases across the country—all of which returned negative. Health authorities urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspected symptoms.
The Kenyan government has designated Gate 16 at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for passengers arriving from countries at high risk of Ebola transmission, particularly Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as part of intensified preparedness measures announced by Public Health PS Mary Muthoni.
Kenya has expanded its cross-border disease surveillance framework and introduced mandatory screening measures at major entry points, including a designated gate at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for flights from countries experiencing Ebola-related challenges, as part of heightened regional preparedness.
Kenya's Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni visited Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to review Ebola containment measures at border entry points and assured that robust protocols are in place. She defended ongoing Kenya-US discussions about establishing an isolation facility, noting that such international cooperation and isolation centers are standard practice and were used during COVID-19.
A six-year-old girl identified as Shantel Nekesa went missing in Kamuthanga village, Sagana, after an unknown person approached her as she left school and walked away with her. CCTV footage showed the girl with a stranger who bought cakes at a nearby shop; the family later received calls about sightings at a shopping centre and reported the incident to Sagana Police Station.
An Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC has prompted Kenya's Public Health PS to activate rapid response mechanisms and intensify screening at borders, but an editorial warns the country remains vulnerable due to cross-border movement of workers and acknowledged shortages of protective equipment and ambulances for patient referral.
Kenya's Ministry of Health has directed county governments to heighten surveillance and screening at all points of entry following Ebola outbreaks reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Counties are expected to strengthen health facility surveillance, particularly in regions with high cross-border movement, and designate holding facilities for suspected cases.
Kenya's health ministry has directed county governments to activate urgent preparedness and response measures following an Ebola outbreak reported in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's Ituri Province, where 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths have been reported. The alert cites significant cross-border population movement and a confirmed imported case in neighbouring Uganda as regional public health risks.
The Health Principal Secretary has called on architects to adhere to Ministry of Health construction guidelines to reduce deaths from unhealthy environments. She emphasized that built environments are critical for public health promotion, noting that humans spend nearly 90 percent of their time indoors and that architectural choices directly influence future health outcomes.
The Nairobi Hospital marked International Nurses Week 2026 with recognition of nurses' role in healthcare delivery. The Public Health Principal Secretary said nurses manage nearly 75 percent of Level 2 and Level 3 health facilities in Kenya and the government is prioritizing investments to improve their training, working conditions, and retention.
The Public Health Principal Secretary has praised nurses for their critical role in delivering healthcare and achieving Universal Health Coverage, noting that nurses manage nearly 75 per cent of Level Two and Level Three health facilities. The Government reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the profession through improved training, working conditions, and career growth.
Kenya has stepped up surveillance and preparedness measures following a reported outbreak of Andes strain Hantavirus linked to a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, with eight cases including three deaths reported aboard MV Hondius. Health authorities say no case has been confirmed locally but have placed digital surveillance systems and laboratory networks on high alert, with counties directed to prepare isolation centres and intensify public sensitization campaigns.
Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni has called for enhanced surveillance and preventive measures against zoonotic diseases including the Andes strain of Hantavirus, saying Kenya is shifting from crisis response to long-term disease prevention and strengthening systems targeting diseases transmitted from animals to humans.