Several protesters were arrested on Tuesday as fresh demonstrations broke out in Kenya over plans to establish an Ebola quarantine centre for American citizens in the tourist town of Nanyuki.
The proposed facility, located at the Laikipia Air Base near the slopes of Mount Kenya, is expected to accommodate Americans arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where authorities are battling a significant Ebola outbreak.
The project has generated widespread opposition among residents and local leaders, with many expressing fears that the facility could expose Kenya to a disease that has never been recorded within its borders.
Demonstrators gathered near the military base on Tuesday to voice their concerns. Some protesters wore protective suits and masks, while others carried a symbolic coffin bearing the inscription “Ebola” to highlight their opposition to the quarantine centre.
Witnesses reported that police moved in to disperse the protesters, arresting several individuals during the demonstration. Officers also deployed tear gas as tensions escalated around the protest site.
One of the protesters, 30-year-old Zipporah Wachira, questioned the decision to bring individuals potentially exposed to Ebola into Kenya.
“We don’t have that disease in this country… they are bringing a virus into our country,” she said.
The quarantine facility is expected to provide 50 isolation beds and will reportedly be operated by American personnel. Construction was said to be nearing completion before legal and political opposition intensified.
The development follows earlier protests held on June 1, which also drew attention to the controversial project. Human rights organisations reported that two people died during the unrest, although details surrounding the deaths remain unclear.
The project is currently facing legal challenges after Kenya’s High Court issued a temporary order halting construction activities. Several political leaders in Laikipia County have also publicly opposed the initiative.
Despite the backlash, the administration of William Ruto has maintained its support for the facility, arguing that Kenya has benefited significantly from American assistance over the years and should reciprocate when requested.
“The American people and government have been partners with us on matters of health for close to 25-30 years,” Ruto said last week.
“It would be most unfortunate if, on one request by the Americans to set up a facility at their cost, we would refuse. We would look very inhuman.”
Kenya’s health authorities have also sought to reassure the public, emphasizing that the facility would not be reserved exclusively for Americans.
According to the country’s Health Minister, the quarantine centre is expected to serve both Kenyan and American citizens if necessary, forming part of broader preparedness measures against the spread of Ebola.
The United States government has committed $13.5 million toward strengthening Kenya’s Ebola preparedness and response capabilities.
The planned centre comes amid continued debate over health cooperation between Kenya and the United States. Last year, both countries entered into a controversial health partnership under which Kenya agreed to provide extensive health-related data in exchange for billions of dollars in assistance.
Meanwhile, concerns about the Ebola outbreak remain high across the region. The World Health Organization has declared the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo an international public health emergency due to the growing number of infections.
Health officials have confirmed 515 Ebola cases in Congo, including 91 deaths linked to the outbreak.
Although fears of cross-border transmission persist, only Uganda has so far reported confirmed cases outside Congo. Ugandan authorities have recorded 19 infections, the majority involving Congolese nationals who crossed the border into the country.
As protests continue, the debate over the quarantine facility has become a major public health and political issue in Kenya, with supporters viewing it as an international humanitarian obligation and critics warning that it could expose the country to unnecessary risks.
