Hundreds of residents in Kenya’s central town of Nanyuki protested on Monday against a proposed Ebola quarantine facility backed by the United States, days after a court temporarily suspended the project amid growing concerns.
The demonstrators marched through parts of the town carrying placards and chanting slogans, opposing the planned facility at Laikipia Air Base, about 200 kilometers north of Nairobi.
Protest organizer Patrick Wahome said two people were killed by gunshot wounds after police opened fire. A security source also said two people had died but did not specify the cause of death, Reuters reported.
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Police spokesman Michael Muchiri said he was not aware of the deaths.
Local media reports of increased activity at the base have fueled speculation that preparations are underway, though authorities have not publicly confirmed that construction has begun.
President William Ruto confirmed on Monday that Kenya had agreed in principle to support the initiative following discussions with the US.
The decision reflected decades of cooperation between the two countries in public health and disease control, he said.
Many residents said they feared the facility could expose local communities to Ebola, despite government assurances that the project is intended to strengthen preparedness against potential regional outbreaks.
Others questioned why Kenya should host a quarantine center for individuals potentially exposed to the virus when the country has not recorded any active Ebola cases, while the number of suspected cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo topped 100, with more than 300 confirmed cases.
“We have started seeing planes going that way, and it is like that quarantine area has already been built. We are very angry,” Nanyuki resident Nick Karari said during the protests.
The proposal has become politically sensitive as the planned facility would reportedly receive US citizens exposed to Ebola, while Kenya has no active cases. Critics argue that the country’s health system should not assume additional risks.
On Friday, Kenya’s High Court issued orders temporarily suspending the establishment of the quarantine, isolation or treatment center and blocking the arrival of any foreign patients pending the hearing of a petition filed by civil society groups.
The petitioners argue that the arrangement raises legal and public health concerns and should undergo greater public scrutiny before implementation.
High Court Judge Patricia Nyaundi on Tuesday issued an order barring the government from taking any steps to build or begin operations at the facility before the case is resolved.
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The judge also ordered the government to disclose all agreements and operational protocols related to the facility within seven days and scheduled the next hearing for June 23.
The controversy has also drawn criticism from professional bodies. Last week, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union questioned whether the country’s health system is adequately prepared to manage highly infectious diseases.
The Health Ministry has defended the initiative, saying the planned facility is part of broader preparedness measures and would serve public health needs rather than any single nationality.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the center was intended for “everyone” and not exclusively for US citizens.
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