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By Spy Uganda
The Kenyan government has defended plans to establish a United States-funded Ebola isolation facility at Laikipia Air Base amid growing public opposition, legal challenges, and concerns over the potential transfer of Ebola patients from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The facility, constructed with support from the United States, was scheduled to become operational last week and is intended to quarantine American citizens arriving from the DRC, which is currently battling a significant Ebola outbreak. The center, located approximately 200 kilometers north of Nairobi, is designed to accommodate up to 50 patients and would be managed by US medical personnel.
The project forms part of a broader partnership between Kenya and the United States aimed at strengthening regional preparedness against infectious disease outbreaks. Washington recently announced plans to commit $13.5 million toward Kenya’s Ebola preparedness and response efforts.
However, the proposal has sparked widespread public concern, with critics questioning why Kenya should host a facility intended primarily for American citizens potentially exposed to the virus.
Tensions escalated on Monday when protests broke out near the facility in Laikipia County. Demonstrators clashed with security forces, prompting police to deploy tear gas to disperse crowds.
According to Hussein Khalid of VOCAL Africa, at least one protester, a 27-year-old man, was reportedly shot and killed during the unrest, while another fatality was also reported pending official identification.
Responding to mounting criticism, Kenyan President William Ruto sought to reassure the public that the facility is part of Kenya’s broader public health infrastructure rather than a special arrangement for foreign interests.
In a statement shared on social media, Ruto said the proposed center was “neither unique nor exceptional” but rather an extension of Kenya’s national disease preparedness system.
“It will be there to serve the people of Kenya and to serve our friends, including the Americans,” Ruto stated.
He further urged citizens to remain calm, insisting that the government had thoroughly assessed the project.
“We are a responsible government. We know what we are doing. People should relax,” he said.
Despite concerns, Kenya has not recorded any confirmed Ebola cases. Health authorities have continued extensive screening and testing of travelers entering the country, particularly from affected regions.
Neighboring Uganda has, however, confirmed 15 Ebola cases, including one death, linked to cross-border transmission from the DRC.
The project has also encountered legal obstacles. On Tuesday, the Kenyan High Court extended a temporary suspension on the facility following a petition filed by Katiba Institute challenging its legality.
The court directed the government to disclose within seven days all agreements and arrangements related to the establishment and operation of the facility.
Meanwhile, opposition to the project continued in Nairobi, where a small group of demonstrators marched through the city center wearing protective suits and carrying a symbolic coffin marked “Ebola.” Protesters displayed placards reading, “Reject Ebola in Kenya,” reflecting fears that the country could become a destination for infected patients.
The controversy comes as the Ebola outbreak in the DRC continues to worsen. According to the World Health Organization, 321 cases and 48 deaths have been confirmed since the outbreak was declared on May 15.
One American citizen a medical missionary working in the DRC has contracted the virus and was subsequently evacuated to Germany, where he is currently receiving treatment.
The proposal has also drawn criticism in the United States. Members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee from the Democratic Party argued that the US government should manage the care of infected Americans domestically rather than relying on a foreign host country.
, https://www.spyuganda.com/deadly-protests-two-killed-as-kenyans-revolt-against-controversial-us-ebola-facility/
