MoH headquarters at Afya House/FILE The Ministry of Health has clarified that the suspension of meetings, seminars and conferences held in hotels applies only to staff of the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, dismissing reports suggesting a government-wide ban.
In a public clarification, the State Department said the measure was an internal administrative decision to ensure technical officers remained available to support ongoing emergency response operations following the confirmation of an imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease, a strain of Ebola, in Kenya.
“The suspension of meetings, conferences and seminars held in hotels applies exclusively to staff of the State Department,” the department said.
It emphasised that the directive should not be interpreted as a general suspension of government meetings, conferences or seminars held in hotels.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this measure does not constitute a blanket suspension of Government meetings, conferences or seminars held in hotels,” the statement added.
The clarification follows some media reports that the government had suspended meetings and conferences in hotels following the confirmation of the Ebola case on October 6.
An internal memo dated October 7, 2026, and signed by Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni Muriuki, directed all heads of directorates, divisions and programmes within the State Department to suspend meetings, seminars and conferences scheduled to take place in hotels with immediate effect.
The directive was to remain in force until further notice, with any exceptions requiring prior approval from the Office of the Principal Secretary.
The department said the measure was intended to prioritise emergency preparedness, contact tracing and response activities to contain the virus and prevent further transmission.
It was also intended to facilitate the implementation of established standard operating procedures for the prevention, preparedness and management of Ebola and other highly contagious infectious diseases.
The memo directed all directorates, divisions and programmes to implement the existing procedures and ensure strict compliance with emergency response requirements.
Heads of the respective units were also instructed to ensure technical officers remained available to support ongoing response operations.
The clarification comes as health authorities intensify preparedness and surveillance measures following confirmation of the imported case, with efforts focused on tracing contacts and preventing further transmission.
