Africa-Press – Kenya. The Ministry of Health has issued a public health advisory urging Kenyans to take preventive measures to reduce the risk of disease transmission during the Christmas and New Year festivities.
In a statement, the ministry noted that festive celebrations often create conditions that heighten the spread of infectious diseases, as people move across regions and interact more closely than usual.
Kenyans travel from urban centres to rural areas and between towns, leading to congestion at bus terminals, airports and along major highways.
At the same time, homes, churches, entertainment venues and public spaces become busier as families and communities gather to celebrate.
Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni warned that such settings provide an ideal environment for diseases to spread rapidly.
She said transmission risks increase due to close contact in crowded spaces, poor ventilation in indoor venues, sharing of food, utensils or personal items, increased travel and exposure to new environments, and reduced attention to hygiene and early symptoms.
“Responsible celebration protects individuals, families, and the wider community through simple preventive actions,” Muthoni said.
According to the ministry, close physical contact, prolonged social interactions and overcrowded indoor spaces make it easier for respiratory infections, flu-like illnesses and other communicable diseases to spread from person to person.
The risk is further heightened by increased partying and late-night activities, which may reduce adherence to basic health precautions.
Muthoni also noted that festive activities often strain normal health-seeking behaviour.
People may ignore early symptoms, delay seeking medical care or continue attending gatherings while unwell to avoid disrupting celebrations.
In addition, increased alcohol consumption and fatigue can weaken immune responses and impair judgment, making it harder to maintain personal hygiene and other preventive measures.
To mitigate these risks, the Ministry of Health outlined a series of prevention measures for the public.
These include maintaining good hygiene by washing hands frequently with soap or using hand sanitiser, covering coughs and sneezes, and avoiding touching the face.
Kenyans were advised to stay home if unwell and avoid attending events if experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, vomiting or diarrhoea, and to seek medical care early if symptoms worsen.
The ministry also encouraged safer social gatherings, recommending outdoor or well-ventilated venues, avoiding overcrowding and limiting the duration of events.
Food safety was emphasised, with advice to cook and store food properly, avoid sharing utensils, cups or bottles, and wash hands before handling food.
Special precautions were urged when interacting with vulnerable groups, including older adults, young children, pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses.
In crowded or high-risk settings, the ministry said the use of masks may be considered to reduce exposure.
Vaccination was also highlighted as a key preventive tool, with Kenyans encouraged to keep recommended vaccines up to date and follow local health guidance.
Travellers were advised to observe destination-specific health advisories, maintain hand hygiene while on the move and avoid travelling if they are sick.
