Protests have intensified across Kenya over a proposed U.S.-funded Ebola quarantine facility, with demonstrators raising concerns about public health risks, transparency, and national sovereignty.
The controversial project, which would accommodate American nationals arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has triggered public opposition and legal challenges.
Demonstrators gathered near Laikipia Air Base and in central Nairobi to demand that the Kenyan government halt plans for the facility.
Protesters accused authorities of allowing Kenya to be used as a quarantine destination for Ebola patients despite the country’s own healthcare challenges.
The situation turned tense during clashes between protesters and security personnel.
Rights organisation VOCAL Africa reported that a 27-year-old man was shot and killed during demonstrations near the proposed site.
Authorities and emergency responders did not immediately confirm the reported death. However, the Kenya Red Cross said it had received reports of injuries linked to the protests.
Activists also submitted a petition to the Ministry of Health, urging the government to reject the U.S. request and abandon the project.
Opponents argue that Kenya lacks the infrastructure, resources, and capacity required to safely manage a specialised Ebola quarantine centre.
Some protesters questioned why the United States would seek to establish such a facility abroad rather than within its own borders.
According to details released about the proposal, the centre would contain 50 isolation beds and be staffed primarily by American medical personnel.
The United States has also pledged $13.5 million to strengthen Kenya’s Ebola preparedness and response capabilities.
President William Ruto has defended the initiative, describing it as part of the country’s broader disease preparedness strategy.
Ruto said the facility would serve both Kenyan citizens and international partners while enhancing the country’s capacity to respond to future health emergencies.
He dismissed concerns surrounding the project, insisting that the facility was not exceptional but rather part of a wider public health framework.
“The government understands the implications of the project,” he said.
The dispute has also moved into the judicial arena.
Kenya’s High Court has extended a temporary suspension of the project and ordered the government to disclose all agreements related to the proposed facility within seven days.
The legal challenge was filed by the Katiba Institute, which argues that greater transparency and public accountability are necessary before the project can proceed.
Kenya has not recorded any confirmed Ebola cases despite conducting extensive screening of travellers entering the country.
However, health authorities remain on alert due to infections reported in neighbouring Uganda and the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to the World Health Organization, the DRC has recorded more than 300 Ebola cases and dozens of deaths since the latest outbreak was declared in May.
The outbreak has renewed concerns about regional disease surveillance and cross-border health security.
One American citizen who contracted Ebola while serving as a medical missionary in the DRC has already been evacuated to Germany for specialised treatment.
The proposed Kenyan quarantine facility has also attracted criticism within the United States.
Some American lawmakers have questioned why citizens infected abroad should be treated in a third country rather than within U.S. medical facilities.
As public opposition grows and legal scrutiny intensifies, the future of the project remains uncertain pending further court proceedings and government disclosures.
