Several people were arrested in Kenya on Tuesday during fresh protests against a planned Ebola quarantine centre being built at Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki, a town near Mount Kenya.
The facility is intended to quarantine American citizens arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where health authorities continue to battle a major Ebola outbreak. Demonstrators gathered near the air base carrying a coffin marked “Ebola”, while some wore protective clothing to express their concerns.
Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd and detained several protesters. Many residents fear the facility could increase the risk of the deadly virus entering Kenya, despite assurances from authorities.
The quarantine centre is expected to contain 50 isolation beds and be managed by US personnel. Construction was nearing completion before Kenya’s High Court temporarily halted the project following legal challenges and public opposition.
Kenya’s Health Ministry has defended the facility, insisting it will serve both Kenyan and American citizens if needed. The United States has also pledged $13.5 million to strengthen Kenya’s Ebola preparedness and response systems.
The controversy comes as the World Health Organization continues to monitor the Ebola outbreak in the DRC, which has recorded 515 confirmed infections and 91 deaths. While fears remain over regional spread, Uganda is the only neighbouring country to have confirmed cases, reporting 19 infections, most involving people who crossed the border from Congo.
Local leaders and residents continue to demand greater transparency over the project as concerns about public health and safety persist.
