Kenya Minute.
Tuesday, 15 September 2026
Kenya’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Tuesday, 15 September 2026
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Kenyan press · Organization

World Health Organization

Also known as: WHO · World Health Organization's director for Europe

World Health Organization — international health agency providing data, vaccine allocation, and coordination on disease outbreaks including Ebola in DR Congo and Ukraine humanitarian crisis response.

2026-04-262026-09-15

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. July 2026
  2. Citizen Digital

    Dr Oluga highlighted progress under the ATscale Kenya Project, including the training of 218 rehabilitation professionals using the World Health Organization Wheelchair Service Provision Packages, and the distribution of 1,000 wheelchairs through the Kenya Medical Supplies Author

    Health Ministry moves to set up government-led wheelchair service as unmet need hits 550,000
  3. Citizen Digital

    (Photo by GLODY MURHABAZI / AFP) Audio By Vocalize Health workers fighting the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo are threatening to strike over unpaid wages, as the World Health Organization warned Tuesday the extent of the epidemic could be four times larger than reported.

    DR Congo health workers on Ebola front line threaten strike
  4. The Standard

    However, Dr Omar said, given Kenya's proximity and activities with neighbouring countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified Kenya as a Priority 2 country for Ebola preparedness.

    Mombasa establishes Ebola training and isolation centre
  5. Citizen Digital

    The head of the World Health Organization said the man was a "humanitarian worker" who had been in Bunia, the capital of the northeastern Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

    New US Ebola patient arrives in Germany for treatment
  6. The Standard

    Surveys done by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Action International (HAI) have found that medicine prices in Kenya's private sector are often several times higher than international reference prices.

    How Kenyans pay multiple times more for prescription drugs, costing lives and inflicting pain
  7. The Standard

    Surveys done by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Action International (HAI) have found that medicine prices in Kenya's private sector are often several times higher than international reference prices.

    How drug prescriptions inflict pain, cost lives
  8. Citizen Digital

    Photo by SEROS MUYISA / AFP Audio By Vocalize Four out of every five new Ebola ​cases in parts of Democratic Republic of Congo have no known link to existing patients, a ‌senior World Health Organization official said, warning that the true scale of the outbreak could be two to f

    Congo Ebola outbreak still spreading largely undetected, WHO official says
  9. Citizen Digital

    (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Audio By Vocalize The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo is the "fastest growing" ever, African health authorities said Thursday, as the World Health Organization

    Ebola outbreak is 'fastest growing ever' as 600 die
  10. The Standard

    Audio By VocalizeThe Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo is the "fastest growing" ever, African health authorities said Thursday, as the World Health Organization said it had killed 600 people.

    Ebola outbreak is 'fastest growing ever' as 600 die
  11. Citizen Digital

    (Photo by GLODY MURHABAZI / AFP) Audio By Vocalize More than 500 people have now died in the Ebola outbreak gripping the Democratic Republic of Congo, World Health Organization figures showed Monday.

    More than 500 dead in DR Congo Ebola outbreak
Business

Novo Nordisk launches Ozempic and Wegovy in Kenya

The News

Danish pharmaceutical Novo Nordisk has introduced Ozempic for type 2 diabetes management and Wegovy for weight management in Kenya, supported by healthcare provider training and patient support programs. A consultant physician noted that Africa has seen a 142 per cent rise in diabetes prevalence over the last ten years.

12 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

Saturday 12 September

  1. Novo Nordisk launches Ozempic and Wegovy in Kenya

    Danish pharmaceutical Novo Nordisk has introduced Ozempic for type 2 diabetes management and Wegovy for weight management in Kenya, supported by healthcare provider training and patient support programs. A consultant physician noted that Africa has seen a 142 per cent rise in diabetes prevalence over the last ten years.

    12 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

Friday 11 September

  1. Bangladesh ex-PM's daughter resigns from WHO Southeast Asia role

    Saima Wazed, daughter of ousted Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina and WHO Southeast Asia chief, has resigned. Wazed was convicted in absentia in November for corruption and sentenced to five years imprisonment, and the WHO was already seeking to terminate her appointment following Bangladesh's anti-graft commission cases against her and her family.

    11 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

Thursday 10 September

  1. KNCHR urges Parliament to repeal attempted suicide law

    The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights is calling on the National Assembly to expedite repealing Section 226 of the Penal Code, which criminalises attempted suicide. The commission says the repeal will uphold rights to life, dignity, health and equality, and notes that approximately four Kenyans die by suicide daily according to Health Ministry data.

    10 September 2026 · The Standard

Wednesday 9 September

  1. Schools integrated into national oral health education and prevention campaign

    Health professionals and education stakeholders are pushing to make oral health education and prevention part of everyday school life, arguing that schools provide an important platform for children to develop good hygiene habits, prevent dental diseases, and transfer health messages to families. The Oral Health Association of Kenya (OHAK) conducted an outreach at Mirera Comprehensive School in Naivasha as part of its 32nd Annual Scientific Conference, during which officials urged the public to seek treatment only from registered and licensed practitioners.

    9 September 2026 · The Standard

Monday 7 September

  1. Private health facilities adopt solar power amid Kenya power cuts

    Private healthcare facilities in Kenya are turning to solar energy due to frequent power outages and blackouts, particularly in remote areas. WHO data indicates approximately 15 percent of health-care facilities in Kenya and other sub-Saharan African countries lack electricity access, and Kenya Power reported an average of 113 hours of power interruptions per year, disrupting essential services like vaccine storage.

    7 September 2026 · The Standard

Saturday 5 September

  1. WHO warehouse in Ukraine destroyed in third airstrike in three months

    The World Health Organization said one of its main warehouses in Ukraine was destroyed by an air attack in Kyiv region on Thursday, the third such incident in three months. The WHO warned of a pattern of attacks on humanitarian facilities in Ukraine.

    5 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

Tuesday 1 September

  1. Nigeria plans to decriminalise attempted suicide

    Nigeria's government says it will send a bill to the National Assembly to decriminalise attempted suicide, which is currently penalised under colonial-era laws. The health minister cited about 300,000 annual suicide attempts and at least 7,000 deaths, noting that criminalisation deters people in crisis from seeking care.

    1 September 2026 · The Standard

Monday 31 August

  1. Africa's tobacco production rises while global output falls

    African tobacco-leaf production increased 8.6 per cent between 2012 and 2024 while global production fell 18.8 per cent over the same period, according to WHO analysis. Africa's cigarette import bill more than doubled from $833 million in 2012 to $1.77 billion in 2024, the WHO warns, highlighting a growing gap between raw tobacco production and dependence on imported manufactured cigarettes.

    31 August 2026 · Capital News

Saturday 29 August

  1. U.S. Customs seizes 847 pounds of khat from two travelers

    U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized approximately 847 pounds of khat with a street value of about $100,000 from two U.S. citizens arriving from London at Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport on Aug. 13. The two men, from New York, each had six suitcases of the leafy substance, which field tests confirmed as khat (Catha edulis).

    29 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. MOH launches coordinated plan for El Niño health risks

    Kenya's Ministry of Health has announced a Health Sector El Niño Contingency Plan for the 2026/2027 season to mitigate health risks from anticipated heavy rains, flooding and displacement. The plan brings together national and county governments, emergency agencies, humanitarian organisations and development partners to prevent and respond to flood-related health emergencies, particularly water- and food-borne diseases.

    29 August 2026 · Capital News

Friday 28 August

  1. Kenya commits to African cross-border health security cooperation

    At the WHO Regional Committee for Africa's 76th session in Addis Ababa, Kenya's Principal Secretary for Public Health Mary Muthoni reaffirmed Kenya's commitment to working with other African countries to prevent, detect and respond to cross-border health threats, emphasizing that health emergencies do not respect national boundaries.

    28 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Uganda declared Ebola-free after 42 days without cases

    Uganda has been declared free of Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus after completing 42 consecutive days without a new confirmed case. The outbreak recorded 20 confirmed cases, 18 recoveries and 2 deaths, with the WHO and Africa CDC welcoming the milestone as the internationally established benchmark for determining transmission has ended.

    28 August 2026 · Capital News

Thursday 27 August

  1. School return can stress dogs, disrupt pet care routines

    Dogs left alone during school hours may experience separation-related stress, barking, and destructive behaviour, while busy schedules risk pet owners neglecting vaccinations, flea prevention, and veterinary visits. A 2022 UK study of 1,807 dogs found 9.9 per cent developed new separation-related behaviours after routine changes.

    27 August 2026 · The Standard

Monday 24 August

  1. University lecturer walks 18 days to raise mental health awareness

    Frederick Gori, a Rongo University lecturer, began an 18-day walk from Migori to Nairobi on August 18 to raise awareness about mental health and deliver petitions to county governments. Gori, who struggled with mental health challenges from age five but did not understand what he was experiencing until about five years ago, says the walk is part of a campaign to get Kenyans talking about mental health.

    24 August 2026 · The Standard

Friday 21 August

  1. Kipchoge backs fundraising campaign for pediatric wheelchairs

    Kenyan marathoner Eliud Kipchoge has endorsed the Race for Mobility campaign led by Michael Panther, founder of Hope Mobility Kenya, which seeks to raise KSh100 million for pediatric wheelchairs by having Panther, a person living with disabilities, participate in the 42-km 2026 Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon on October 25.

    21 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. DR Congo receives 70,000 Ervebo vaccine doses for Ebola response

    The WHO said DR Congo will receive 70,000 doses of Ervebo vaccine for trials and limited use against a Bundibugyo strain Ebola outbreak, though the vaccine is approved only for the Zaire strain. The allocation includes 20,000 doses for a Phase 3 clinical trial and 50,000 for frontline and health workers, following a request from the DRC government, which has recorded more than 5,000 cases and over 2,300 deaths since the outbreak was declared three months ago.

    21 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

Thursday 20 August

  1. DR Congo receives 70,000 doses of Ervebo vaccine for Ebola response

    The World Health Organization said the Democratic Republic of Congo would receive 70,000 doses of Ervebo vaccine — approved for the Zaire strain but not the Bundibugyo strain spreading in the country — for a clinical trial and use among frontline and health workers responding to an outbreak that has recorded more than 5,000 cases and over 2,300 deaths since being declared three months ago.

    20 August 2026 · The Standard

Wednesday 19 August

  1. Armed drones pose rising threat to humanitarian aid workers

    The UN warns that cheap, increasingly accessible armed drones are emerging as a deadly new threat to aid workers. The technology is making aid operations more dangerous, with 907 aid workers killed, injured, or kidnapped in 2023, and 218 killed, injured, or kidnapped so far in 2026.

    19 August 2026 · Capital News

  2. Over 1,000 humanitarian workers killed in three years

    The UN has warned that more than 1,000 humanitarian workers have been killed over the past three years as aid work becomes increasingly dangerous. Secretary-General António Guterres cited growing attacks in conflict zones, shrinking funding, access restrictions, and new weapons like armed drones as compounding security threats to aid personnel.

    19 August 2026 · Capital News

  3. WHO official says Congo Ebola can be controlled within three months

    A WHO incident manager said it is still possible to bring the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo under control within three months if necessary resources are provided, though the outbreak has worsened and expanded to a sixth province, killing at least 2,325 people so far.

    19 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

Tuesday 18 August

  1. Only 40% of world's health facilities meet basic sanitation standards

    The World Health Organization and UNICEF report that only 40 per cent of healthcare facilities worldwide had toilets meeting basic sanitation standards, while 11 per cent have no sanitation services at all. The report, based on data from 70 countries, found significant regional variation, with only 23 per cent of facilities in sub-Saharan Africa providing basic services compared to 55 per cent in central and southern Asia.

    18 August 2026 · The Standard

  2. DR Congo Ebola outbreak moving faster than previous epidemics

    The WHO Director-General warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is moving faster than any previous epidemic and risks spreading to more countries, stating the outbreak is "far from being under control." The DRC's 17th Ebola outbreak has killed more than 2,300 people out of nearly 5,000 cases, making it the deadliest in the country's history, and is being fuelled by insecurity, displacement, and population movement in weakly-governed regions.

    18 August 2026 · The Standard

Thursday 13 August

  1. Ebola may have circulated in DRC weeks before detection

    A study into the Democratic Republic of Congo's Ebola outbreak, formally declared on May 15, suggests the virus may have already been circulating in communities weeks before recognition. Kenya has raised its Ebola preparedness to nearly 90 per cent, but public-health systems must improve at identifying unusual patterns before they develop into obvious outbreaks.

    13 August 2026 · The Standard

Wednesday 12 August

  1. Ebola outbreak in DR Congo kills more than 2,000

    Ebola has killed more than 2,000 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the latest outbreak, which is the country's 17th surge of the disease and is already considered the largest in the country's history. According to Congolese health authorities, 2,011 people have died out of 4,381 confirmed cases, putting it close behind the DRC's deadliest Ebola outbreak in 2018 to 2020.

    12 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Kenya's Ebola readiness rises to nearly 90 percent

    Kenya's readiness to respond to an Ebola outbreak has climbed to nearly 90 per cent, up from 66 per cent in April, following months of training, simulation exercises and surveillance upgrades, according to a health official. The country has focused special attention on 12 high-risk counties identified by factors including border proximity, population movement and location along major transport routes.

    12 August 2026 · The Standard

Tuesday 11 August

  1. DRC Ebola outbreak kills nearly 2,000 as containment efforts strain

    The Democratic Republic of Congo's Ebola outbreak has confirmed 4,294 infections and 1,960 deaths, with a 45.6 per cent case-fatality rate, while contact tracing operates at 85 per cent and infections are being detected outside established transmission chains, making containment harder.

    11 August 2026 · The Standard

  2. Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo kills over 2,000

    An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed more than 2,000 people out of 4,381 confirmed cases, making it the country's largest outbreak to date and approaching the deadliness of the 2018–2020 outbreak. The Health Minister said the outbreak has not yet peaked and authorities expect to bring the spread under control within three months.

    11 August 2026 · The Standard

Sunday 9 August

  1. Five killed in overnight Russia-Ukraine drone and missile strikes

    Russian strikes killed two people across Ukraine overnight Saturday and Sunday, while a Ukrainian drone attack killed three people in Russia's Belgorod region. The strikes damaged civilian infrastructure including a medical warehouse and residential buildings in Kharkiv and Odesa, with dozens wounded.

    9 August 2026 · The Standard

  2. WHO warehouse in Dnipro destroyed in attack

    The WHO chief said on Sunday that a humanitarian warehouse in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro holding medical supplies for frontline health facilities was struck and destroyed, with no casualties reported. The WHO has recorded 3,148 attacks on healthcare in Ukraine since the February 2022 Russian invasion, resulting in 240 deaths and 1,055 injuries.

    9 August 2026 · The Standard

Saturday 8 August

  1. WHO recommends Ervebo vaccine trial against DR Congo Ebola outbreak

    WHO vaccine experts recommended a full-scale human trial of the Ervebo vaccine to test if it offers cross-protection against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola spreading in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where confirmed cases have exceeded 4,000 with 1,850 fatalities.

    8 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

World Health Organization — Kenyan press coverage · Kenya Minute