China has given Kenya Sh260 million, half of which will strengthen the country’s response to Ebola, just days after Kenya confirmed its first imported case of the deadly virus.
The funding is part of a $2 million grant handed over to the National Treasury by Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan.
Half of the grant, equivalent to about Sh130 million, will support Kenya’s preparedness and response to potential Ebola outbreaks, while the other Sh130 million will go towards drought mitigation.
National Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo received the grant during a ceremony attended by Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni.
Ambassador Guo Haiyan stated that "China's aid embodies the friendly sentiments held by the Chinese government and people toward the government and people of the Republic of Kenya."
Guo expressed China's continued willingness to strengthen development cooperation with Kenya under the frameworks of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and Global Development Initiative (GDI).
The funding comes at a critical time for Kenya, which confirmed its first imported case of Bundibugyo Ebola Virus Disease on October 6.
The patient, a Kenyan citizen who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo, travelled by road from Congo to Kampala before flying to Nairobi on October 3.
He was taken to Nairobi Hospital after arriving at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and was later confirmed to have Ebola. He died on October 5.
The Ministry of Health has identified contacts linked to the case and is tracing passengers and crew members who travelled on the same flight.
Kenya has since intensified surveillance at points of entry and strengthened isolation and treatment capacity at designated health facilities.
The Chinese grant will provide additional resources as the government works to prevent the imported case from developing into wider community transmission.
Kenya had been on heightened alert for Ebola since May, when outbreaks were reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
The Ministry of Health says it had screened more than 652,000 travellers and tested 267 suspected samples before the first case was confirmed.
Nearly 5,000 health workers had also been trained in Ebola prevention and management.
The World Health Organisation has backed Kenya’s response, saying the country had important outbreak control measures in place.
The WHO said Kenya’s Ebola preparedness score had risen from 66 per cent in May to 82 per cent in July.
The Chinese funding will add to resources already being deployed by the government and its development partners to strengthen surveillance, testing, isolation and emergency response.
Kiptoo also briefed Ambassador Guo on his recent official visit to China and follow-up engagements required to advance various projects and areas of cooperation discussed during the trip.
Kenya and China have traditionally focused their partnership on infrastructure, trade and investment, but cooperation has increasingly expanded into health and other socioeconomic areas.
The other Sh130 million from the grant will support drought mitigation efforts as the government responds to climate pressures affecting parts of the country.
The handover comes as Kenya faces the immediate challenge of containing the imported Ebola case while maintaining surveillance along its borders and at airports.
Health authorities have urged Kenyans to remain vigilant without panicking, while continuing to observe infection prevention and control measures.
The government has also urged people with symptoms or possible exposure to seek medical attention promptly.
The grant comes at a crucial moment, providing additional support for Kenya’s Ebola response as authorities work to prevent the country’s first imported case from triggering further transmission.
