By Ayomide Otitoju
Police in Kenya on Tuesday clashed with protesters opposing the construction of an Ebola quarantine centre for United States citizens in the tourist town of Nanyuki, as officers fired tear gas and arrested several demonstrators.
The facility, being built at the Laikipia Air Base near Mount Kenya, is intended to quarantine American citizens arriving from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is currently battling a major Ebola outbreak.
Kenya has never recorded a confirmed Ebola case, and the proposed facility has generated strong opposition among residents who fear the country could be exposed to the highly contagious disease.
Dozens of protesters gathered near the air base, with some wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and carrying a mock coffin bearing the inscription “Ebola.”
AFP journalists at the scene reported that police used tear gas to disperse the crowd and arrested several demonstrators as tensions escalated.
“We don’t have that disease in this country. They are bringing a virus into our country,” said protester Zipporah Wachira.
Another resident, Priscilla Waimani, questioned the decision to locate the facility in Kenya, saying she wanted to know why authorities considered the country a suitable destination for such a project.
The quarantine centre, which is expected to accommodate up to 50 isolation beds and be operated by American personnel, was nearing completion last week.
The project has faced growing resistance since it was first announced. Demonstrations held on June 1 reportedly resulted in two deaths, although the circumstances surrounding the fatalities remain unclear, according to rights groups.
Construction was temporarily halted following an order from Kenya’s High Court, but reports indicate that work has continued at the site. Several local political leaders in Laikipia County have also opposed the project.
Despite the controversy, the administration of President William Ruto has defended the initiative, citing longstanding cooperation between Kenya and the United States in the health sector.
“The American people and government have been partners with us on matters of health for close to 25 to 30 years,” Ruto said last week, arguing that rejecting the request would be inappropriate given years of American support.
Kenya’s health ministry has maintained that the facility will also benefit Kenyan citizens, while Washington has pledged $13.5 million to support the country’s Ebola preparedness efforts.
The project follows a controversial health partnership agreement signed by Kenya and the United States last year, under which Kenya agreed to share significant health data in exchange for billions of dollars in assistance.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak in the DRC a global health emergency. The outbreak has recorded 515 confirmed infections and 91 deaths.
Although concerns remain over cross-border transmission, only Uganda has reported cases outside the DRC, with 19 infections confirmed, most involving Congolese nationals who crossed the border.
