Health CS Duale appoints KMPDU Deputy SG Miskellah to Ebola taskforce

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Deputy Secretary General Dr. Dennis Miskellah has been appointed to the National Ebola Disease Taskforce by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.

Dr. Miskellah's appointment, announced in a letter dated October 19, 2026, follows a request by KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Atellah for the union to be included in the national coordination team overseeing Kenya's response to the Ebola outbreak.

In his letter to CS Duale, Dr. Atellah said KMPDU's participation was necessary to ensure the union contributes technical expertise, improves communication and safeguards healthcare workers involved in the outbreak response.

The request followed deliberations by the union's National Advisory Council (NAC) during a meeting held on October 16, 2026, where members resolved that KMPDU should actively participate in the national coordinating mechanism.

“The purpose of this letter, therefore, is to formally request the inclusion of KMPDU representation in the National Ebola Taskforce,” Atellah wrote.

In his appointment letter to Dr. Miskellah, Duale said the Ministry of Health had constituted the taskforce to provide strategic leadership and coordinate the national response following confirmation of Kenya's first imported case of Ebola Disease, 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,” CS Duale stated.

The taskforce is chaired by the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards and co-chaired by the Chief Executive Officer of the Council of Governors.

As a member, Dr. Miskellah will be expected to participate in taskforce meetings, provide strategic advice on outbreak preparedness and response, and support coordination, communication and mobilisation of the constituency he represents.

He will also support the implementation of the taskforce's decisions and action points, alongside other duties assigned by its chairperson.

CS Duale directed that deliberations of the taskforce, including information on contacts, patients and budgets, remain confidential, adding that all public communication on the response would be handled through authorised Ministry of Health channels.

The appointment marks Dr. Miskellah's second State-level appointment within a one-month period.

This after 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, effective October 9, 2026.

The appointment was published in Gazette Notice No. 15978 under the Local Authorities Provident Fund Act.

He was also in 2024 among an 18-member taskforce appointed by President William Ruto to address human resources for health.