Controversy Surrounds Quarantine Facility in Kenya Amid Ebola Concerns
As tensions rise in Kenya over the establishment of a U.S.-backed Ebola quarantine center, accusations of legal breaches have surfaced against authorities. Local activists claim that the government is disregarding a court order that halted the construction of the facility.
The center was intended to quarantine U.S. personnel evacuated from Congo, where an ongoing Ebola outbreak has claimed over 930 lives out of 2,344 confirmed cases. According to the Samaritan’s Purse, a U.S. humanitarian organization, seven of their American staff are currently under quarantine in Kenya’s “large military tents” for a 21-day period, although none have exhibited Ebola symptoms.
Exact details about the quarantine location remain undisclosed by the organization, but reports suggest it is situated at Laikipia Air Base, approximately 185 kilometers north of Nairobi. The base is near Nanyuki, a town that has seen recent protests against the facility, resulting in two fatalities amid violent demonstrations.
Efforts to obtain comments from Kenya’s Ministry of Health, the U.S. State Department, and Laikipia Air Base have been unsuccessful. Kenya, while geographically distant from the Congo outbreak and currently free of Ebola cases, has received $13.5 million from the U.S. for Ebola preparedness initiatives.
Kenyan President William Ruto supports the quarantine center as part of a broader U.S.-Kenya partnership. He announced plans for 24 additional Ebola readiness centers nationwide, funded by U.S. contributions. However, a court ruling last month ordered a stop to the facility’s operations, followed by Health Minister Aden Duale’s directive to suspend its construction.
The legal action was initiated by the Law Society of Kenya and the Katiba Institute, which argued that Kenya’s health infrastructure could not manage an Ebola outbreak. Nora Mbagathi, Katiba Institute’s chief, expressed concern over reports of ongoing quarantines, stating, “Should any Kenyan government official be involved … they have completely betrayed the public trust and must be held personally accountable.”
The Law Society of Kenya emphasized that ignoring a court directive would signify “impunity and lawlessness.” Meanwhile, Samaritan’s Purse President and CEO Franklin Graham explained that their staff, who have been active in Ebola response efforts in Congo, are living in military tents with U.S. military-provided supplies. Graham did not address why the quarantine is operational despite the court’s prohibition.
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