MBABANE – A controversial plan by the administration of United States President Donald Trump to establish an Ebola quarantine and treatment facility in Kenya has suffered a major setback after the country’s High Court extended an order blocking the project.
According to a report by The Guardian, the Kenyan High Court on Tuesday extended by seven days an earlier order preventing the opening of a U.S.-funded field hospital at Laikipia Air Base near Nanyuki in central Kenya. The court also directed the Kenyan government to disclose details of its agreement with the United States regarding the facility.
The hospital, constructed by the U.S. military with approval from the Kenyan government, was expected to begin operations last Friday. It was intended to accommodate American citizens exposed to or infected with Ebola amid an ongoing outbreak in parts of East and Central Africa.
The plan has sparked widespread public anger across Kenya, with residents questioning why the United States would choose to treat potentially infected Americans abroad rather than on its own soil.
“Everybody should be quarantined in their home country. We shouldn’t allow foreigners to bring us diseases,” Nanyuki resident Charles Mathenge told The Guardian.
Public opposition intensified this week, with reports indicating that two people were killed during demonstrations against the facility in Nanyuki on Monday.
Many residents have accused the United States of applying double standards. Souvenir seller David Mulinge told the publication that it was troubling that Americans allegedly did not want Ebola patients entering their own country while expecting Kenya to host them.
The controversy comes as health authorities in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) battle an outbreak of Ebola caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. According to figures cited by The Guardian, the DRC has recorded 344 confirmed cases and 60 deaths, while Uganda has reported nine confirmed cases and one death. No Ebola cases have been confirmed in Kenya.
The U.S. government planned to deploy 30 medical personnel to staff the facility, which would have a capacity of 50 beds. Historically, American citizens infected with Ebola have been repatriated to the United States for treatment.
However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently stated that the U.S. government was determined to prevent Ebola from entering the country.
“We cannot and will not allow any cases of Ebola to enter the United States,” Rubio reportedly said during a cabinet meeting on May 28.
The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from Kenya’s medical fraternity. Dr Davji Atellah of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union described the arrangement as unacceptable, arguing that Kenya should not become what he termed a “containment colony.”
The legal challenge was brought by the Kenyan non-profit organisation Katiba Institute, which argued that the agreement between Nairobi and Washington raised serious concerns about public health, governance and national sovereignty.
In her ruling, High Court Judge Patricia Nyaundi prohibited the Kenyan government from proceeding with the project until the matter is fully heard. She further ordered authorities to disclose all agreements relating to the facility within seven days. The case is scheduled to return to court on June 23.
Despite mounting opposition, Kenyan President William Ruto defended the initiative, insisting that it was being politicised and formed part of broader efforts to strengthen Kenya’s preparedness for health emergencies.
But residents of Nanyuki remain unconvinced.
Motorcycle taxi operator Simon Ong’ono questioned why a country with one of the world’s most advanced healthcare systems would seek to treat exposed Americans in Kenya instead of at home.
Others expressed fears that an Ebola outbreak could devastate livelihoods and lead to restrictions similar to those imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Street vendor Fauzia Isiche said she feared a possible lockdown would destroy her ability to support her family, while local businesswoman Purity Kendi accused the government of failing to prioritise the safety of its citizens.
“We don’t have another country to run to,” Kendi told The Guardian.
The dispute has quickly evolved into a broader debate about national sovereignty, public health security and the relationship between Kenya and the United States, with many Kenyans demanding that the government abandon the project altogether.
Source: Adapted from reporting by The Guardian
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