Two Killed in Kenya Protests Over Planned U.S.-Backed Ebola Quarantine Facility

The United States is reportedly planning to establish a 50-bed quarantine center near the Laikipia Air Base in the town of Nanyuki. The facility is intended to house U.S. citizens exposed to the Ebola virus in the neighboring countries of Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

The proposal has sparked strong opposition among local residents, who fear the facility could expose Kenyans to the risk of Ebola infection. Critics accuse Washington of transferring public health risks associated with its citizens onto Kenya.

Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Nanyuki on Monday, burning tires and blocking roads in protest. Police responded with tear gas and live ammunition in an attempt to disperse the crowds.

Protest organizer Patrick Wahome said two people were killed by police gunfire during the demonstrations. A security official also confirmed the deaths but did not specify the cause. Police spokesperson Michael Muchiri said he was unaware of the reported fatalities.

Last week, a Kenyan court temporarily halted construction of the quarantine facility following a lawsuit filed by human rights groups. However, public anger reportedly intensified after U.S. military aircraft continued transporting personnel and equipment to the site despite the court order.

On Tuesday, the court extended the suspension of construction for an additional three weeks and ordered the Kenyan government to disclose its agreement with Washington regarding the facility within seven days. The next hearing has been scheduled for June 23.

Despite the court ruling and growing protests, Kenyan President William Ruto defended the project. Speaking publicly on the issue for the first time on Monday night, Ruto described the center as part of Kenya’s national pandemic preparedness strategy and a reflection of the country's long-standing health partnership with the United States.

The president rejected criticism of the facility but did not address the court’s suspension order. He said the center would serve both Kenyan and foreign nationals and insisted that the government understood the implications of the project.

The controversy comes amid an outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in eastern Congo and neighboring Uganda. According to reports, more than 900 suspected cases have been identified in the region, with over 220 deaths recorded. Health experts warn that the true scale of the outbreak may be significantly higher because the virus circulated undetected for an extended period.

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly maintained that Ebola patients will not be allowed to enter the United States. During the 2014–2016 West African Ebola outbreak, several infected American citizens were transported home for treatment. More recently, however, American aid workers infected in Congo were reportedly transferred to facilities in Germany and the Czech Republic instead.

According to the plan, the Nanyuki quarantine center would be operated by personnel from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It would temporarily house U.S. citizens who have been exposed to the virus but have not yet developed symptoms. Those who later become ill would be transferred elsewhere for treatment.

President Ruto said he approved the facility after receiving a request for assistance from President Trump. However, U.S. officials have not publicly confirmed Ruto’s claim regarding the scope of the facility's services. Addressing critics, the Kenyan leader said, “We are a responsible government. We know what we are doing.”