Kenya blocks US-built Ebola quarantine centre amid protests

Kenyan authorities have halted the construction of a 50‑bed Ebola quarantine facility for U.S. citizens at the Laikipia Air Base near Nanyuki. The centre, intended to house Americans arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo outbreak, sparked protests in Nanyuki, where demonstrators equipped themselves with protective gear and sign‑boards reading “Ebola”. Police arrested several protesters and the Kenya High Court issued an interim injunction halting work, while some county officials also opposed the project.

President William Ruto reiterated Kenya’s duty to cooperate with the United States, noting a $13.5 million U.S. funding pledge for Kenya’s Ebola preparedness. The health minister stressed that the centre would benefit both Kenyans and Americans. The World Health Organization has declared the DRC Ebola outbreak a public‑health emergency, reporting over 500 cases and dozens of deaths, heightening local fears of virus spread.

The dispute underscores tension over foreign‑led health interventions and sovereignty, with Kenyan citizens questioning the safety and necessity of relocating the risk to their territory.