A GeoPoll survey of 1,349 Kenyans, fielded as information of the nation’s first confirmed Ebola case broke, exhibits near-universal concern however uneven information of what to do.
73%
had heard of the Ebola case in Kenya
81%
are very involved about Ebola spreading
37%
are very assured they’d know what to do if signs appeared
52%
have seen false or deceptive details about Ebola
On 6 October 2026, Kenya’s Ministry of Well being confirmed the nation’s first Ebola case. The affected person, a Kenyan nationwide who had lived within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), travelled to Nairobi by way of Uganda and died within the capital. Well being authorities quarantined members of the family and well being employees who had contact with the affected person and commenced tracing passengers from the flight.
The case is linked to the Ebola epidemic within the DRC, which started in Could 2026 and has since grow to be the worst in that nation’s historical past, with greater than 8,300 confirmed circumstances and over 4,000 deaths reported by early October. The World Well being Group (WHO) declared the outbreak a Public Well being Emergency of Worldwide Concern in Could 2026.
To grasp how Kenyans are reacting, GeoPoll ran a fast cell survey on 6 and seven October 2026, accumulating 1,349 accomplished responses from adults in 46 of Kenya’s 47 counties. The survey coated consciousness, concern, information of signs, belief in info sources and publicity to misinformation.
Most Kenyans heard in regards to the case inside a day
Almost three in 4 respondents (73%) mentioned they’d already heard in regards to the Ebola case in Kenya. One other 23% had not, and 4% weren’t positive. Most individuals heard by way of information protection, social media and tv, with only a few citing pals, household or well being officers as their first supply.
Concern is near common
Concern could be very excessive. 81% of respondents are very involved about Ebola spreading in Kenya, and 92% are not less than considerably involved. Fear is private as effectively: 74% are very nervous that they or somebody of their family might grow to be contaminated.
When requested to explain their largest concern in their very own phrases, 44% talked about the unfold of the illness. Different widespread themes have been prevention and consciousness (13%), lack of life (12%) and the federal government’s response (9%). One respondent wrote that the principle threat is “its chance of spreading since not everybody who was involved with the lifeless sufferer has been put to quarantine.”
Data of signs is partial
Solely about half of respondents recognized the core early signs of Ebola. 53% chosen extreme weak spot or fatigue, 52% fever and 45% headache. Fewer recognised vomiting (30%), diarrhoea (26%) or stomach ache (21%), which WHO lists among the many signs that sometimes comply with. Half (51%) named unexplained bleeding, which happens in some circumstances however often later within the sickness. 6% mentioned they didn’t know any signs.
A preparedness hole
Excessive concern doesn’t translate into confidence about what to do. 37% are very assured they’d know what to do in the event that they or somebody near them developed signs. One in three (34%) shouldn’t be assured, and seven% are usually not positive. Confidence within the authorities is considerably increased: 66% are assured within the Kenyan Authorities’s capacity to forestall and management the unfold of Ebola, whereas 33% are usually not.
Kenyans see prevention as a shared duty. 31% mentioned everybody has a job, and 30% mentioned the nationwide authorities is principally accountable. Smaller shares pointed to particular person residents (15%), worldwide organisations comparable to WHO (11%) and healthcare employees (7%).
Official sources are trusted, however doubt persists
The Ministry of Well being is essentially the most trusted supply of correct Ebola info, chosen by 60% of respondents. WHO (46%), docs and healthcare employees (41%) and county well being officers (36%) comply with. Tv (35%) ranks above radio and social media (24% every).
Most respondents (80%) imagine the reported Ebola scenario is actual. Nevertheless, 15% assume it’s most likely or positively not actual, and 5% have no idea. This minority issues throughout an outbreak, as a result of individuals who doubt the menace are much less prone to comply with steerage or report signs.
Half have already seen misinformation
About half, 52% of respondents mentioned they’ve seen details about Ebola in Kenya that they imagine could also be false or deceptive. 23% see it incessantly. Amongst those that encountered it, tv was the commonest channel (29%), adopted by Fb (25%), TikTok (16%) and X/Twitter (10%). Taken collectively, social platforms account for 57% of those encounters.
What this implies
- Sensible steerage is the precedence. Concern is already excessive, so communication ought to give attention to what to do: which signs to observe for, who to name and the place to go.
- Use the channels individuals belief. The Ministry of Well being holds the very best belief. Its verified channels, together with the JALI WhatsApp chatbot (0700 719 719), are effectively positioned to succeed in individuals straight.
- Tackle doubt early. One in seven respondents questions whether or not the scenario is actual. Clear, constant updates from well being authorities can restrict the house for rumours.
- Monitor misinformation throughout media. Deceptive content material is reaching individuals by way of each tv and social platforms, so fact-checking efforts must cowl each.
GeoPoll performed this fast dipstick survey by way of its cell platform between 6 and seven October 2026. The outcomes mix two waves of the identical questionnaire, yielding 1,349 accomplished interviews with adults aged 18 and over throughout 46 of Kenya’s 47 counties.The outcomes are unweighted and mirror a pure fall-out pattern reasonably than strict demographic quotas. The pattern is skewed male (69%), youthful (77% are aged 18–34), and extra educated than the nationwide inhabitants. Because of this, the findings must be thought of indicative of mobile-connected adults and shouldn’t be interpreted as nationally consultant of Kenya’s grownup inhabitants.For well being analysis, together with research on public well being, well being behaviours, consciousness, attitudes, and entry to healthcare throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America please contact GeoPoll.