NAIROBI, Kenya—The Ministry of Health has issued a warning about the MPOX virus’s prevalence, urging Kenyans to be especially watchful for breakouts in the nation.
Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni stated that the MPOX virus was still a threat to the nation on the morning of Monday, September 7, 2026, while presiding over a departmental management meeting with all department heads under the docket.
She urged Kenyans to be cautious and take the appropriate safeguards. According to PS Muthoni, who provided the media with a status report, MPOX is simpler to locate in isolation wards in the nation’s hospitals than any other illness.
She claims that the disease has remained silent in the community, impacting many people, particularly those who live near borders.
“Cumulatively on MPOX, we have 1,298 confirmed cases, and we also have 19 deaths so far. We have 40 out of 47 counties that are affected, and of course, the distribution of these starts with Mombasa, which has the highest,” said the PS.
PS Mary Muthoni’s advice to Kenyans over MPOX
As of now, seven (7) counties, especially those in the transport corridor, remain at the highest risk of the virus that has so far claimed 19 lives in the country. Mombasa leads the pack in counties affected. Nairobi comes in second. Others are the Busia, Makueni, Kiambu, Kilifi, and Nakuru counties.
In this regard, PS Muthoni urged members of the public to practice the highest levels of hygiene at all times, asking hoteliers to also ensure that the bedding in their hotels and the surfaces are cleaned up.
“We want to ask the truck drivers: should you come from a country where there are high infections—please make sure that you visit a health facility should you feel unwell,” the PS further said.
She emphasised that her department will continue enhancing surveillance at the border points and also ensure that there is screening that is happening at the points of entry.
“Departments must coexist, and agencies must coexist. They must be able to work together. Evidence-based decision-making. Be guided by data. Make your decision using data and be proactive in communication,” she said.
Inside Kenyan government communication policy
The PS also disclosed that the government now has a communication policy, urging those present at the event to enlighten themselves with what it says.
“So that every week, give information on what should go to the media. Public health is about communication. It’s about letting members of the public know what they need to do and also follow through. Let us not leave here; then when we are meeting again on Monday, you do not even have briefs,” she explained.
She used the occasion to remind the departmental heads that every Friday they must be able to submit the activities for the following week and the number of activities they are taking.
“Please let that be done. Planning department, remember that is your assignment. Monday morning I need my file so that I can choose the activity that I need to participate in during the week,” she added.
According to PS Muthoni, performance will be judged entirely by the measurable impact on the health and well-being of Kenyans rather than the production of plans and reports.
“How we are going to reduce the reduction of diseases at the community level, how we are going to help the country to reduce the number of queues in our facilities—that’s how we will measure that the health sector is truly, truly working,” she said.
Kenya to experience El Niño season soon
On El Niño, which the meteorological department has projected would be hitting Kenya soon, the Ministry of Health says that it would be having a stakeholder meeting this coming Wednesday to assess the impact and plan accordingly.
“On Wednesday, we are having a partners meeting, where we will discuss extensively, and also we will discuss with them our KEPHIC 2026 upcoming event. Therefore, to mitigate expected spikes in cholera, malaria, and malnutrition, we are calling upon, um, other state agencies and also our partners to come on board to help us finance our plan, the contingency plan,” explained the PS.
The PS notes about 18 counties remained at the highest risk of the effects of El Niño, thus putting Kenyans at risk of waterborne diseases.
The management meeting agreed on a plan that would cushion Kenyans and ensure the mitigation of diseases and proper sensitisation in the lead-up to and during the rains that have in the past caused havoc.
“The forecast shows a 99% probability of El Niño conditions during the October to December seasons, and above-average rainfall is anticipated across 46 counties. The National Disaster Operations Center has identified 18 counties that are of high risk for flooding. So this is not something that we take lightly from the health sector. It is important to note this comes with destruction of infrastructure, you know, displacement of people, and it is important that we continually give direction to the members of the public,” the PS said.
Kenya Public Health International Conference
The PS revealed that the country will hold the Kenya Public Health International Conference (KEPHIC 2026) from October 26 to October 28, 2026.
The conference will prominently feature prevention, health promotion, primary health care, and community-level action.
“In fact, the key must be primary health care because that is what is incorporated even with the act, the things that we have already done. We already have the Primary Health Care Act. However, issues of prevention are very key, and we have acts that we need to remove from the shelves and tell Kenyans that the documents are there, and we are ready to implement them,” noted the PS.
PS Muthoni remarked that every directorate and division must take full ownership of the event by securing and ensuring that they have a partnership, finalising technical content, and also mobilisation of resources, both human and capital, and prevention control measures at the community level.
