Dr. Dennis Miskellah, the Deputy Secretary General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), has been appointed to the National Ebola Disease Taskforce as the government strengthens its response to the outbreak.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirmed the appointment in a letter dated October 19, 2026, following a request by KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah to have the union represented in the national team coordinating efforts to contain the disease.
The union said its participation would help bring medical expertise into the response, improve communication between the government and healthcare workers, and ensure the safety of medical staff involved in managing the outbreak.
The request followed a meeting of KMPDU’s National Advisory Council held on October 16, 2026. During the meeting, members agreed that the union should take an active role in the national coordination mechanism.
In his letter to Duale, Atellah formally asked the Ministry of Health to include a KMPDU representative in the taskforce, arguing that the union had an important role to play in protecting healthcare workers and supporting the country’s response.
Duale said the taskforce had been established to provide strategic leadership and coordinate national efforts following the confirmation of Kenya’s first imported Ebola case, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, on October 6, 2026.
“In recognition of your experience and the important role of your organisation in protecting the health of Kenyans, I am pleased to appoint you as a Member of the National Ebola Disease Taskforce,” the Health CS stated in the appointment letter.
The taskforce is chaired by the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, with the Chief Executive Officer of the Council of Governors serving as co-chair.
Miskellah will be expected to attend taskforce meetings, offer strategic advice on outbreak preparedness and response, and support communication and coordination with the healthcare workers he represents. He will also help implement decisions and action points agreed upon by the team.
Duale further directed members to maintain confidentiality during taskforce deliberations, particularly on sensitive information involving patients, contacts and budgets. He said all public communication on the Ebola response would be handled through authorised Ministry of Health channels.
The appointment marks Miskellah’s second appointment to a state-level position within a month. On October 9, 2026, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi appointed him to the Board of Trustees of the Local Authorities Provident Fund (LAPFUND) for a three-year term.
The appointment was published in Gazette Notice No. 15978 under the Local Authorities Provident Fund Act.
Miskellah also served in 2024 as one of 18 members appointed by President William Ruto to a taskforce tasked with addressing human resource challenges in Kenya’s health sector.
