Kenya issues Ebola safety guidelines for diaspora in DRC and Uganda

The Kenyan government has issued urgent safety guidelines to citizens living in or travelling through parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, as an Ebola outbreak spreads across the region.

The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, through the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, urged Kenyans abroad to take precautionary measures and follow health advisories issued in their host countries. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

What Kenyans must do

Kenyans have been advised to practice regular handwashing with soap and clean running water, avoid contact with sick persons or bodily fluids where possible, and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms such as fever, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea, or unexplained bleeding occur after travel to affected areas.

The ministry also directed citizens to rely on updates from Kenya Missions abroad and official health agencies. Kenya's 24-Hour Diaspora Response Center has been activated to support citizens abroad. Contact numbers provided are +254 207 876 000 and WhatsApp +254 114 757 002. Citizens are also encouraged to follow official updates via @Diaspora_KE and www.diaspora.go.ke.

Understanding the threat

Ebola Virus Disease is a severe illness caused by viruses in the Orthoebolavirus genus. Symptoms appear between 2 and 21 days after infection and include sudden fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, rash, and in severe cases, bleeding and organ failure.

The current outbreak has already disrupted travel and sports preparations across the region. The Democratic Republic of Congo called off its national football team's pre-World Cup training camp in Kinshasa as the virus spreads. Health authorities have emphasised early reporting of suspected cases and adherence to hygiene practices while warning against stigma and misinformation that could undermine outbreak control efforts.

Diaspora on alert

For Kenyans living and working in DRC and Uganda—many of them in healthcare, education, NGO work, and trade—the outbreak presents both a health risk and an economic disruption. Cross-border traders who move between Kenya, Uganda, and eastern DRC are particularly vulnerable, as are healthcare workers on the front lines of the response.

The activation of the Diaspora Response Center signals the government's recognition that Kenyan citizens abroad need real-time support during health emergencies. The center has been used in the past for consular assistance during natural disasters, civil unrest, and medical evacuations.

What comes next

The WHO and national health authorities in DRC and Uganda are coordinating the emergency response, with support from international partners. Vaccination campaigns and contact tracing are underway in affected areas. For Kenyans in the region, the advice is clear: stay informed, follow health protocols, and report symptoms immediately. The outbreak's trajectory will determine whether additional travel restrictions or evacuations become necessary in the coming weeks.

Reporting drawn from Ghanamma, Okay Africa.