‘No Ebola Billionaires’: Duale Sends Warning to Tender Seekers at Afya House

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has assured the public that the government will not allow corrupt individuals to exploit the current Ebola outbreak to enrich themselves, explicitly ruling out a repeat of the tender scandals that marked the COVID-19 pandemic.

CS Duale made the firm commitment while warning unscrupulous actors to stay away from the Ministry of Health headquarters at Afya House, emphasizing that officials will award no fraudulent tenders.

The Health CS shared that the issue hits close to home, as he lost his own mother during the COVID-19 pandemic at a time when corrupt networks profited from illegally awarded emergency tenders.

“I want to tell the nation that there will be no Ebola billionaires under my leadership. I lost my own mother during COVID, but as I and other Kenyans and I lost our parents and loved ones, others were busy stealing, and they became billionaires,” he stated.

Denying Emergency Fund Reports and Targeting Tender Seekers

CS Duale revealed that figures linked to past pandemic corruption schemes are already attempting to profit off the ongoing health emergency following the confirmation of cases in the country.

He addressed local media reports claiming that the government, in partnership with the United States and the World Bank, was mobilizing a KSh 70 billion Ebola Response Fund. Duale completely dismissed those reports as unfounded.

“During the Covid-19 pandemic, we had the emergence of ‘COVID billionaires’. Some of them are trying to become the president of Kenya. Do not try to loiter around Afya House looking for fake tenders. I have heard the media reporting about a Ksh70 billion fund; there is nothing like that,” Duale reiterated.

Second Ebola Death Confirmed

The Cabinet Secretary’s remarks coincided with the Ministry of Health confirming a second fatality resulting from Bundibugyo Virus Disease (Ebola).

The deceased, a 65-year-old woman who represented Kenya’s third confirmed case, was a close relative and contact of the initial index patient. She passed away 10 days after first showing symptoms.

“She was admitted to the infectious disease unit on the same day and had been receiving supportive care from our dedicated medical teams, who did everything possible to save her life. Sadly, she succumbed to the disease early this evening,” the statement read.

Duale expressed his condolences to the bereaved family and confirmed that public health officials will conduct the burial in full compliance with specialized Ebola protocols.

“We kindly ask the public and the media to respect the family’s privacy as they mourn their loved one. Trained teams will conduct the burial with respect for the family’s wishes and beliefs, while protecting the family and the community from further possible infection,” Duale wrote.

Outbreak Status and Public Health Guidelines

Addressing the status of the outbreak, Duale confirmed that seven other patients remain under specialized medical care across two isolation units. He assured citizens that the virus remains localized within a single cluster of known contacts, with no evidence indicating community spread.

However, the CS cautioned that Ebola remains a severe, potentially fatal disease where a patient’s medical condition can deteriorate rapidly.

He called on all citizens to strictly observe preventive measures:

• Avoid direct contact with blood or bodily fluids of infected or sick individuals.
• Refrain from touching or handling the bodies of deceased persons suspected of having died from the virus.
• Practice regular handwashing with clean water and soap.

Health officials advise anyone experiencing symptoms such as sudden fever, severe body weakness, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or unexplained bleeding to seek immediate medical assistance at the nearest health facility.

The post ‘No Ebola Billionaires’: Duale Sends Warning to Tender Seekers at Afya House appeared first on Nairobi Wire.