At least 17 people have died in an area in northern DRC where health officials confirmed an outbreak of the disease.
The money is for technical support and other mitigation measures.
Kenya spent nearly Sh1 billion when the worst Ebola epidemic in history hit West Africa in 2014.
The Health ministry has set aside Sh500 million to keep Ebola out of Kenya amid fears the spread of the deadly disease from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) could hurt the tourism and travel industry.
At least 17 people have died in an area in northern DRC where health officials confirmed an outbreak of the disease.
Kenya is on high alert following the outbreak. The money is for technical support and other mitigation measures, Health secretary Sicily Kariuki said on Friday.
“This matter is under control because we had previously invested heavily. We have set aside half a billion for intervention measures in the event of an emergency,” she said.
Kenya spent nearly Sh1 billion when the worst Ebola epidemic in history hit West Africa in 2014, acquiring mobile clinics, protective gear and screening machines.
Ms Kariuki said that the protective equipment from the World Health Organisation and the Ministry of Health issued in the last outbreak were still in good condition.
She did not give a breakdown of how the Sh500 million will be used. The Ministry of Health has started screening all travellers at entry points including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Busia and Malaba border points using thermal guns. “We usually have 260 health officers on call and we have already selected 100 for the airport just to ensure the process is seamless,” Ms Kariuki said.
Ebola causes fever, flu-like pain, bleeding, vomiting and diarrhoea. It is transmitted through blood, vomit, diarrhoea and other bodily fluids.
The worst Ebola epidemic in history ended in West Africa just two years ago after killing more than 11,300 people and infected some 28,600 as it rolled through Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
It stopped travel to the continent, hurting Kenya’s tourism that was already reeling from Al-Shabaab attacks.
Kenya Airways also dipped into losses in 2014 following the reduced travel. Tourism secretary Najib Balala said Kenya was ready to combat the deadly disease.
