Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has warned that he will not allow a repeat of the COVID-19 corruption scandals as Kenya battles Ebola, vowing to stop individuals seeking to profit from the public health crisis.
Speaking on Friday during the commissioning of a maternity wing at Uruku Health Centre in Meru County, Duale said strict measures had been put in place to prevent fraudulent procurement and misuse of public funds.
“I want to tell the nation that there will be no ‘Ebola billionaires’ under my leadership,” Duale declared, warning individuals seeking fraudulent tenders at the Ministry of Health to keep off.
The CS drew parallels with the COVID-19 pandemic, when allegations of inflated tenders, irregular procurement and misappropriation of emergency funds sparked public outrage.
Duale became emotional as he recalled losing his mother to COVID-19, saying it was unacceptable that some individuals allegedly enriched themselves while families were burying loved ones.
“Many Kenyans lost loved ones to COVID-19. I personally lost my mother to the disease,” he said, recalling the painful period.
He insisted that public funds allocated to fighting Ebola must be used for their intended purpose, with accountability remaining central to the government's response.
His warning comes as Kenya intensifies surveillance and contact tracing following confirmed cases of Bundibugyo Ebola.
As of October 21, health authorities had reported nine confirmed infections, including one death, with no evidence of wider community transmission.
Duale also dismissed claims that the government had allocated Sh70 billion to the Ebola response, warning against misinformation surrounding emergency funding.
Turning to politics, the CS rallied Meru residents behind Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, warning the region against undermining one of its own.
He described Kindiki as a valuable political asset whose position in government should be protected rather than sacrificed for uncertain political alliances.
He also endorsed a Ruto-Kindiki ticket in the 2027 General Election, arguing that continuity in government would support economic development, security and improvements in healthcare.
Duale maintained that the administration remained committed to strengthening health infrastructure and expanding access to quality medical services.
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