Kenya Court Orders Government to Reveal Details of US-Linked Ebola Facility

GOOBJOOG NEWS | NAIROBI: Kenya’s High Court has ordered the government to disclose details of a proposed United States-backed Ebola quarantine facility, escalating scrutiny of a controversial project that has sparked protests and legal challenges across the country.

The ruling came a day after demonstrations in the central town of Nanyuki turned deadly, with two people killed during clashes linked to opposition to the planned facility, according to protest organizers and security sources.

In its decision, the court extended orders temporarily halting the establishment of any Ebola quarantine, isolation or treatment centre in Kenya and prohibited the admission of individuals exposed to the virus pending further hearings.

The court also directed Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to publicly release documents related to the project, including the agreement underpinning the facility, health and biosafety assessments, regulatory approvals and operational procedures.

The case was brought by rights organization Katiba Institute, which argues that the government failed to adequately consult the public and disclose critical information about the proposed site.

The planned 50-bed facility would be located at an air force base in Laikipia County and, according to senior US officials, would primarily serve Americans exposed to Ebola who are not showing symptoms.

The proposal has generated intense debate in Kenya, with critics questioning whether the country’s healthcare system has the capacity to safely manage potential Ebola-related risks. Concerns have also been fueled by what opponents describe as a lack of transparency surrounding the agreement.

Despite the court order and public protests, the government has maintained its support for the project, arguing that it forms part of broader efforts to strengthen Kenya’s preparedness against infectious disease outbreaks.

President William Ruto defended the initiative, saying the facility would be integrated into Kenya’s existing public health infrastructure and would benefit both Kenyan citizens and international partners if needed.

“The facility at Laikipia Air Base is not different from other facilities we already have across Kenya,” Ruto told reporters, dismissing concerns that the project posed an unusual risk.

The president revealed that he approved the facility following a request from US President Donald Trump, citing decades of cooperation between Nairobi and Washington on major health initiatives, including efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, Ebola and COVID-19.

Ruto said Kenya has already established isolation, surveillance and treatment facilities in 23 counties as part of its national preparedness strategy.

The controversy comes amid a growing Ebola outbreak involving the rare Bundibugyo strain in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The outbreak has killed dozens of people and prompted heightened vigilance across East Africa, with governments strengthening border screening and disease surveillance measures.

Public health experts say transparency and public trust will be crucial if authorities hope to maintain support for preparedness measures, particularly as regional governments seek to prevent the spread of the virus beyond affected areas.

The High Court is expected to hear further arguments in the coming weeks as legal and political pressure mounts on the government to explain the facility’s purpose and operational safeguards.