Kenyan President William Ruto has defended plans to establish a US-backed Ebola quarantine centre in the country after protests erupted and a court temporarily halted the project.
The facility, located at Laikipia Air Base, was designed to quarantine American citizens arriving from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where authorities are battling a major Ebola outbreak. According to reports carried by Channels Television and AFP, the centre was expected to provide 50 isolation beds and be managed by US medical personnel.
Public opposition intensified on Monday as residents and activists questioned the decision to host the facility. Demonstrations near the air base turned violent, with security forces deploying tear gas to disperse protesters concerned that the move could increase the risk of Ebola transmission in Kenya.
Emergency services and the Kenyan Red Cross were unable to confirm reports of fatalities during the unrest. The Red Cross said it was aware of two injuries.
Responding to the controversy, Ruto insisted the quarantine centre formed part of Kenya’s broader disease preparedness strategy and was not solely intended for American citizens.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, the president said the facility was “neither unique nor exceptional” and would serve both Kenyans and international partners, including the United States.
Addressing the issue earlier, Ruto urged citizens not to politicise a public health matter, stressing that the agreement between Kenya and the US government was in the country’s interest.
“We are a responsible government. We know what we are doing,” he said, seeking to reassure the public over safety concerns.
Kenya has not recorded any Ebola cases despite extensive screening and testing of arrivals. However, neighbouring Uganda has confirmed 11 cases and one death linked to the outbreak.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s High Court has extended a temporary suspension of the project after a legal challenge by the Katiba Institute. The rights group argues that the facility was approved without sufficient public disclosure or consultation.
The court has given the Kenyan government seven days to release all agreements relating to the establishment of the quarantine centre.
A smaller protest was also held in central Nairobi on Tuesday. Demonstrators dressed in protective suits carried a coffin marked “Ebola” and displayed placards rejecting the facility.
The outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains severe. According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1,000 suspected Ebola cases and nearly 250 deaths have been reported since the outbreak was declared on May 15.
