Director of Medical Services in charge of Preventive and Promotive Health at the Ministry of Health Dr. Andrew Mulwa. 
By Andrew Mbuva.
Senior Ministry of Health official Dr. Andrew Mulwa has called on political leaders to refrain from politicising public health matters, particularly the ongoing debate surrounding the establishment of Ebola preparedness facilities in the country.
Speaking during a Women Empowerment Forum at Kyang'ondu in Kako, Mbooni East Constituency, Makueni County, Dr. Mulwa, who serves as the Director of Medical Services in charge of Preventive and Promotive Health at the Ministry of Health, emphasized that disease outbreaks should be addressed through scientific planning and public health expertise rather than political rhetoric.
He noted that infectious diseases such as Ebola do not discriminate based on geographical location and can affect anyone regardless of where they live.
“When we talk about public health, we are dealing with a professional field that focuses on preventing and managing diseases. Ebola is not a disease that can only affect people in a particular region. It can affect anyone, anywhere,” said Dr. Mulwa.
The health official defended the government's efforts to establish facilities capable of handling highly infectious diseases, arguing that preparedness is a fundamental responsibility of government.
According to him, every region should be equipped with health facilities capable of responding effectively whenever dangerous outbreaks occur.
“Makueni County hosts approximately 184 kilometres of the busy Nairobi-Mombasa Highway. This makes it important for us to remain prepared for any public health emergency. Even as an Ebola facility is being established in Laikipia, leaders here should begin planning for a similar preparedness centre in Salama, Makueni County,” he said.
Dr. Mulwa warned against turning critical health interventions into political battlegrounds, saying such actions risk undermining public confidence and preparedness efforts.
“We want politics kept out of health matters. Public health decisions should be guided by science, preparedness and the welfare of citizens,” he added.
The Director also highlighted achievements made by the national government under President William Ruto's administration in reforming Kenya's healthcare sector.
He said the introduction of the Social Health Authority (SHA) was aimed at ensuring universal access to healthcare services, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Dr. Mulwa explained that through the Primary Health Care Fund, registered Kenyans can access services at dispensaries and health centres free of charge, regardless of whether they have made contributions to the scheme.
He further praised the government's decision to strengthen the Community Health Promoters (CHPs) programme, noting that over 107,000 CHPs across the country are now receiving monthly stipends after years of serving communities voluntarily.
“Community Health Promoters are the first line of healthcare in our villages. The government has empowered them and ensured they receive monthly payments for the critical services they offer to wananchi,” he said.
The Ministry official also cited the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund under SHA, which enables patients involved in accidents or other emergencies to receive treatment within the first 24 hours without making payments upfront.
In Makueni County alone, he revealed that SHA has disbursed approximately KSh1 billion over the past year to support healthcare delivery.
He said the funds have been channelled to health centres and hospitals across the county, helping improve access to medicines, strengthen healthcare services and support development initiatives within the health sector.
Dr. Mulwa's remarks come amid national discussions on disease preparedness and the government's plans to enhance Kenya's capacity to respond to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.
