Ruto cancelled Congo trip over ebola scare, Duale tells court

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale appears in the dock at the Milimani High Court in Nairobi on June 23, 2026. [Nancy Gitonga, Standard]

Fresh details have emerged that President William Ruto cancelled a planned presidential visit to Congo-Brazzaville on May 26, 2026, following a warning from the Ministry of Health over the growing Ebola outbreak.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale made the revelations before the Milimani High Court in Nairobi on Tuesday while defending the government's decision to continue building an Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base despite a court order barring the development.

Appearing before Justice Patricia Nyaundi for mitigation and sentencing after being found in contempt of court, Duale disclosed that he personally advised President Ruto not to travel to Congo-Brazzaville because of the public health implications and the mandatory quarantine requirements that would follow.

"The President, my lady, on May 26, 2026, was going to attend a conference in Brazzaville, Congo, the Congo Business Commission," Duale said. "He acted on our advice, and the President delivered his speech virtually. He delivered it virtually."

The Health CS further revealed that members of the President's advance team who had travelled to Congo-Brazzaville were subjected to mandatory quarantine upon their return to Kenya.

"It is notable to state that those from CETABS, who were his advance team to Congo, Brazzaville, as part of the presidential delegation, upon their return were quarantined for a period of 21 days in one of our quarantine stations," he said.

The disclosure emerged as Duale sought to persuade the court that the government acted in good faith and was guided by scientific advice in its efforts to establish an Ebola isolation and quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base.

Duale told the court that Kenya faces a genuine public health threat due to the movement of Kenyan soldiers serving under the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He warned that an Ebola case entering the country through ordinary channels could trigger significant disruptions.

"In the event that one were to arrive at the international airport, it could result in the cancellation of flights, travel bans by various countries," Duale stated.

He further noted that if a suspected Ebola patient sought treatment in a public hospital, panic could spread among patients and healthcare workers.

The Cabinet Secretary defended the choice of Laikipia Air Base, insisting that concerns raised by petitioners about community transmission risks were misplaced.

"The fear that a Laikipia facility could serve as a vehicle for Ebola transmission in the surrounding community is scientifically unfounded," he said.

"The facility is located at a military air base, placing it at significant geographical distance from populated areas with very strict access protocols."