Protests Erupt in Nanyuki Over U.S. Ebola Quarantine Facility in Kenya

Kenyan police clashed with protesters in Nanyuki over a U.S.-planned Ebola quarantine facility, as public anger and court orders against the project continue to intensify.

NANYUKI — Kenyan police on Tuesday fired tear gas and arrested protesters demonstrating against a U.S.-backed quarantine centre for Americans exposed to Ebola, a facility being built despite court orders halting its construction.

The proposed 50-bed unit at an air force base has sparked anger among residents, who accuse the United States of shifting the burden of treating Ebola-exposed individuals to Kenya amid an outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

Last week, two people were killed during earlier protests in the central town, where tensions have continued to rise despite repeated assurances from both Kenyan and U.S. authorities that the project will proceed.

On Tuesday morning, police dispersed small groups of demonstrators gathered near the base, using tear gas and detaining several people. Witnesses said officers arrested at least six protesters and transported them in police vehicles. One protester was seen carrying a white cross marked with the words “Respect Ebola” in red.

“I am not happy with the idea of establishing this Ebola facility here,” said 24-year-old protester Bethwel Onyango. “Why would a government set up a facility to control a disease we don’t have when they can’t deal with the ones affecting us?”

The U.S. government has stated it will not allow Ebola cases to enter its territory, unlike during the 2014–2016 outbreak when infected Americans were treated in the United States. Several U.S. citizens have reportedly been exposed in eastern Congo and Uganda, where more than 500 cases and over 100 deaths have been recorded since the outbreak was declared.

Some exposed individuals have been transferred to medical facilities in Germany and the Czech Republic, while the Nanyuki centre is intended for asymptomatic Americans only. Patients who develop symptoms would be treated elsewhere, according to U.S. officials.

A Kenyan High Court judge has twice ordered a halt to construction and demanded full disclosure of agreements and operational plans. The latest ruling required the government to comply within a week, but lawyers say the deadline passed without action.

The Kenyan government has not publicly responded to the court orders. President William Ruto has defended the project, saying his administration is “doing the right thing.” Meanwhile, reports indicate U.S. military aircraft continue to deliver personnel and equipment to the site despite the legal restrictions.