NAIROBI, Kenya- Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President William Ruto have held talks on Kenya’s preparedness for the ongoing Ebola outbreak, with the United States pledging millions of dollars in support to strengthen the country’s response capacity.
According to a statement released by the U.S. Department of State on Thursday, Rubio spoke with President Ruto to discuss efforts aimed at preventing the spread of Ebola and enhancing Kenya’s readiness to handle any potential cases.
The conversation comes amid heightened regional concern following the outbreak, which has prompted countries across East Africa to bolster surveillance, border screening, and emergency response measures.
During the call, the United States announced its intention to commit $13.5 million (approximately Sh1.7 billion) towards Kenya’s Ebola preparedness efforts.
The funding is expected to support the procurement of critical medical supplies, strengthen disease surveillance systems, and enhance the country’s public health response capabilities.
Rubio and Ruto also discussed coordinated efforts to ensure the availability of vital medical supplies and maintain the resilience of Kenya’s healthcare system as authorities remain on high alert.
The U.S. government further revealed that it has already committed $112 million in bilateral assistance to support the broader regional Ebola response, underlining Washington’s commitment to containing the outbreak before it spreads further.
“The Secretary and President Ruto discussed coordinated efforts to secure vital medical supplies for Kenya and ensure the strength and preparedness of Kenya’s health system,” the State Department said in a readout of the conversation.
The two leaders agreed to maintain close coordination as the situation evolves and continue leveraging the long-standing health partnership between Kenya and the United States.
Kenya and the U.S. have collaborated for decades on major public health programmes, including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria control, pandemic preparedness, and health systems strengthening.
The latest commitment signals growing international support for Kenya’s preventive measures as health authorities intensify surveillance at ports of entry and strengthen emergency response mechanisms.
Washington emphasized that preventing the outbreak from spreading beyond affected areas remains a key priority.
“The United States’ highest priority remains protecting the health and security of the American people by working to prevent the Ebola outbreak from reaching our shores,” the State Department stated.
The discussions come as Kenya continues to engage international partners in strengthening its preparedness framework amid concerns that increased regional travel and trade could heighten the risk of cross-border transmission.
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