News
Ebola · Healthcare Infrastructure · Kenya · US Foreign Policy
A Kenyan High Court judge, Patricia Nyaundi, has blocked the construction and operation of a U.S.-backed 50-bed Ebola quarantine facility in Nanyuki for three weeks, escalating a legal and political dispute amid protests and public anger over health risks and transparency.
The proposed facility, intended for U.S. citizens exposed to Ebola in Democratic Republic of Congo or Uganda, faces strong opposition from local residents who accuse the U.S. of shifting health risks onto Kenya. Judge Nyaundi ordered the Kenyan government to disclose all agreements and operational protocols related to the facility within seven days, with the next hearing scheduled for June 23.
This ruling follows earlier temporary suspensions and deadly protests in Nanyuki, where organizers claim two people were killed by police, though authorities have not confirmed these deaths. U.S. health official Mehmet Oz stated the Trump administration remains confident in finalizing a "very favorable arrangement" with Kenya, emphasizing the goal of providing "highest clinical care for Americans" and preventing Ebola spread.
Kenyan President William Ruto defended the agreement as part of a broader preparedness plan and long-standing health cooperation, despite the U.S. pledging $13.5 million for Kenya’s Ebola preparedness efforts. The dispute unfolds amidst a worsening regional Ebola outbreak, with the World Health Organization reporting 321 confirmed cases and 48 deaths in Democratic Republic of Congo, plus 15 cases in Uganda.
