China gives Kenya Ksh.129M grant to support Ebola response

The grant was officially handed over at the National Treasury, where Treasury Principal Secretary Dr Chris Kiptoo received Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan.

According to the National Treasury, USD 1 million will go towards drought mitigation, while the remaining USD 1 million will support Kenya’s preparedness and response to potential Ebola outbreaks.

The assistance comes as Kenya steps up efforts to strengthen its capacity to respond to Ebola following the country’s first reported case, involving a patient who travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo and later died at Nairobi Hospital.

The government has been mobilising more than Ksh.70 billion for Ebola preparedness and response, including an initial Ksh.2.6 billion set aside by the National Treasury for emergency interventions.

The government is also expecting Ksh.21 billion in assistance from the United States and Ksh.51.8 billion in emergency financing from the World Bank through its Rapid Response Option.

The funds are intended to strengthen disease surveillance, improve early detection, train community health workers and procure essential medical supplies.

Meanwhile, the proposed operationalisation of a US-funded bio-isolation facility at Laikipia Air Base has faced legal challenges, with the courts suspending its establishment following public concerns about the potential risks.