The Kenyan government has introduced new regulations to prevent and control the transmission of Ebola, a highly infectious disease. The new Public Health (Ebola Disease) Rules, 2026, were presented to the National Assembly committee on Delegated Legislation by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale. The regulations aim to facilitate timely and appropriate public health measures to prevent and control the transmission of Ebola while respecting human rights and freedoms.
One of the key regulations is a ban on the repatriation of Ebola victims' bodies outside the country for burial. According to the regulations, a person shall not transfer or repatriate the body of a person who has died of Ebola disease outside Kenya. This move is intended to prevent the spread of the disease and ensure safe and dignified disposal of the body.
The regulations provide for a safe and dignified disposal of the body of a person who has died in the country. The body shall be handled only by trained personnel using appropriate protective equipment, placed in a sealed, leak-resistant body bag bearing an identification reference, and kept in a secure designated area. The body shall not be washed or embalmed, or redressed for funeral purposes, to minimize the risk of infection.
The regulations also provide for medical officers of health to ensure decontamination of affected premises and equipment, safe disposal of contaminated waste, and assessment and follow-up of personnel exposed during body handling or burial. The burial of a person who has died of Ebola shall be arranged by a medical officer within 24 hours at a site suitable on public health grounds.
Relatives of the deceased will be allowed to attend the burial but shall be guided by public health protocols. The medical officer of health shall consult with the next of kin on burial arrangements and permit family participation and religious or cultural observances inconsistent with the control measures. The regulations also provide for the identification and preservation of records of unclaimed bodies.
Health CS Aden Duale has called on Parliament to fast-track consideration of the regulations to facilitate their passage and effective implementation of measures necessary to prevent and control the spread of Ebola in the country. The committee will now scrutinize the regulations before making recommendations to the House on whether to approve them in their current form or propose amendments.
Kenya has recently contained an Ebola outbreak, with the last confirmed infection reported on October 19. The government has targeted November 11 to complete the release of all remaining contacts under quarantine and surveillance. The country has successfully contained all nine infections, and Health CS Duale has stated that Kenya should be rewarded, not punished, for its efforts to contain the disease.
Key points
- New regulations ban repatriation of Ebola victims' bodies outside Kenya for burial.
- Regulations provide for safe and dignified disposal of Ebola victims' bodies.
- Medical officers will arrange burials within 24 hours at a site suitable on public health grounds.
