There Will Not Be Any Ebola Billionaires Like We Had During Covid - CS Duale

Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale on Friday, October 23, assured Kenyans that the Ebola virus will not give birth to new 'questionable billionaires' as witnessed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Duale said that he will not sit and watch as unscrupulous individuals make money at the expense of the health of other Kenyans.

He said that the fight was personal to him as he lost his own mother during the Coronavirus pandemic, at a time when several Kenyans made money through illegally awarded 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.

The Health Boss warned that the so-called Covid Billionaires were already trying to milk the Ebola crisis, especially after Kenya confirmed 8 cases.

Duale warned them to steer clear of the Ministry of Health headquarters at Afya House, saying that there are no tenders to be awarded.

He further denounced reports by the local media that the government was mobilising a Ksh70 billion Ebola Response fund in collaboration with the United States and the World Bank.

"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.

Earlier, the Ministry of Health announced that the first contacts of Kenya’s Ebola outbreak will be released from quarantine on Sunday, October 25.

MoH said the individuals who remain in good health will be reunited with their families, thanking them for their cooperation in helping contain the spread of the virus.