Kenya Set to Receive Ksh 74 Billion EU Support as G7 Moves to Curb Ebola Spread

Kenya stands among African countries set to benefit from a Ksh 74 billion European Union emergency package designed to strengthen preparedness and response to the Ebola outbreak in the Great Lakes region.

Leaders announced the support on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, through a joint declaration by G7 members and partner states, including Kenya, as they coordinated efforts to contain the resurgence of Ebola in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

The European Union will channel the funds into outbreak response systems, vaccine research, treatment support, and wider health security interventions across the Great Lakes and Uganda corridor.

From this package, about Ksh12.6 billion will support urgent humanitarian aid, research, and rapid response operations.

G7 Ebola Response Drives Global Action

Kenya’s inclusion in the plan highlights its key role in East Africa and its vulnerability to cross-border disease spread driven by trade, travel, and population movement.

Meanwhile, the government has stepped up containment efforts by establishing 23 quarantine facilities for Ebola cases, including one in Laikipia, while also tightening screening at border points and increasing surveillance in high-risk counties.

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The outbreak, which has emerged in a remote and conflict-affected part of eastern DRC, has triggered global concern as health experts warn that current vaccines and treatments may not fully address the rare strain involved.

“Our first goal must be to prevent further spread, both within the affected area in the eastern DRC and to neighbouring countries and other parts of the world,” the statement noted.

For Kenya, the funding will strengthen disease surveillance, laboratory testing, border screening and rapid response systems, especially along key entry routes linking the country to the affected region.

Across the continent, governments continue scaling up preparedness measures to avoid a repeat of past outbreaks that strained health systems and disrupted economies.

Continental Preparedness

Alongside the EU package, the Continental Preparedness and Response Plan has mobilized about Ksh67 billion to help countries improve early detection and response capacity.

The declaration further calls for coordinated action between governments, humanitarian agencies, and private sector players, focusing on contact tracing, infection prevention, quarantine, testing, and cross-border coordination.

Also Read: “Pay Attention to Africa”: Ruto Sends Strong Message to G7 Leaders

Global Coordination Intensifies

Leaders also warned that rising global travel increases the risk of cross-border transmission and urged continued vigilance.

“We continue to closely monitor the situation as it evolves… to ensure that this dangerous virus does not spread, including across borders,” the statement added.

Overall, the funding package will strengthen Kenya’s immediate response capacity while also supporting long-term resilience against emerging infectious disease threats across the region.

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A photo of doctors handling an Ebola patient. Photo/ file