MTRH Releases Suspected Ebola Patients After Negative Tests as Parliament Audits Hospital Readiness
“We have sat down with the hospital management and we are satisfied that money meant for personal emoluments and development had been well used,” Sunkuli said.
By James Gitaka | HubzMedia Africa
Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) has confirmed that 10 patients previously managed as suspected Ebola cases tested negative for the virus and were released from isolation, as the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health assessed the facility’s preparedness to handle a possible outbreak and reviewed its financial management.
MTRH Chief Executive Officer Dr Philip Kirwa said the hospital had strengthened its emergency response capacity through specialised isolation facilities, medical equipment and protective gear for healthcare workers.
Speaking during the parliamentary committee’s oversight visit to the referral facility in Eldoret, Kirwa said the hospital had the necessary resources to respond to suspected Ebola infections and other emerging public health threats.
He noted that most of the 10 patients suspected of having Ebola had tested positive for malaria and received appropriate treatment after laboratory tests ruled out Ebola virus disease.
The latest update comes amid heightened public health vigilance following confirmation of an imported Ebola case in Kenya earlier in October 2026.
MTRH outlines Ebola preparedness measures
Kirwa said the hospital had received medical equipment and other essential supplies from the Ministry of Health to strengthen its capacity to isolate and manage suspected Ebola cases.
“We have also received all the necessary material we require for the isolation and treatment of Ebola cases and protective gear for staff,” Kirwa said.
The CEO added that the facility had isolation infrastructure and intensive care capacity that could be deployed to support the management of suspected cases.
According to the hospital briefing reported on October 28, MTRH has a 30-bed intensive care unit that can also be used for isolation when necessary.
Kirwa maintained that the facility was prepared to respond to Ebola and other emerging infectious diseases, while emphasising the importance of surveillance, early identification and appropriate clinical management.
The hospital has previously said it is working with the Ministry of Health and other partners to strengthen infection prevention and control, contact tracing, staff training and public awareness.
On October 22, MTRH reported that a person identified through contact tracing following possible exposure to a suspected Ebola case was under precautionary monitoring. The individual had tested negative and remained under observation in accordance with Ministry of Health and World Health Organization protocols.
The subsequent update on the 10 suspected cases reinforces the distinction between precautionary isolation and a confirmed Ebola infection.
Sunkuli leads parliamentary oversight visit
The National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health, led by Kilgoris MP Julius Sunkuli, visited MTRH to assess the use of public funds, review ongoing development projects and evaluate the hospital’s readiness to respond to public health emergencies.
Sunkuli said the committee was satisfied with the hospital management’s handling of funds allocated for personnel emoluments and development activities.
“We have sat down with the hospital management and we are satisfied that money meant for personal emoluments and development had been well used,” Sunkuli said.
He added that the committee had reviewed the status of ongoing projects at the facility and found that implementation was progressing, while noting that delayed budgetary allocations for the 2025–2026 financial year would require further examination.
The oversight exercise is part of Parliament’s responsibility to scrutinise public expenditure, evaluate the implementation of government programmes and ensure that public institutions use allocated resources for their intended purposes.
The committee’s engagement with MTRH also provided an opportunity to assess the relationship between financial allocations, hospital infrastructure and the delivery of specialised healthcare services.
Parliament highlights MTRH’s regional role
Sunkuli underscored the importance of the Eldoret-based referral hospital, which serves patients from across Kenya and the wider East African region.
“As Parliament, we provide funding for this hospital, among others, and hence we also have to play the oversight role. We are satisfied that we have done our mandate today,” he said.
The hospital provides specialised and referral services to patients drawn from multiple counties, making its infrastructure, staffing and emergency preparedness important to the wider health system.
Sunkuli said the institution’s operations and ongoing projects remained important areas of parliamentary scrutiny, particularly where public funds are allocated to expand healthcare services and improve facilities.
The committee’s assessment of MTRH’s Ebola response capacity also reflects the importance of ensuring that major referral hospitals can maintain routine services while preparing for potential public health emergencies.
Hospital urges vigilance as Ebola monitoring continues nationally
Although MTRH says the suspected cases it has managed tested negative, the hospital’s preparedness measures come as health authorities continue surveillance and follow-up of people identified as possible contacts of confirmed Ebola cases.
Ebola virus disease can cause severe illness, and early identification, prompt isolation of suspected cases, appropriate infection prevention measures and timely laboratory testing are important components of outbreak control.
Health authorities have urged members of the public to rely on official updates, practise proper hand hygiene and seek medical attention promptly if they develop symptoms suggestive of Ebola, particularly after possible exposure.
MTRH has also emphasised that precautionary monitoring does not automatically mean that an individual has contracted the virus.
The hospital has said its services remain operational as it continues to strengthen surveillance, infection prevention and control, and coordination with national health authorities.
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