Kenyan police have fired tear gas to disperse protesters in the central town of Nanyuki as opposition intensifies against a controversial quarantine facility being constructed to house Americans exposed to Ebola, despite ongoing legal challenges seeking to halt the project.
The proposed 50-bed quarantine centre, located within the Laikipia Air Base, has become the focus of growing public anger, with many residents accusing the United States of transferring the risks associated with the deadly Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring Uganda onto Kenya.
The latest protests come amid mounting tensions in Nanyuki, where two people were killed during demonstrations last week. Residents have increasingly expressed frustration over what they see as a lack of consultation and transparency surrounding the project, particularly as both Kenyan and U.S. authorities continue to support the facility despite court orders aimed at stopping further construction.
Earlier this moring, police moved quickly to break up small groups of protesters who gathered in different parts of the town. Officers fired tear gas canisters as demonstrators attempted to march against the facility.
One protester carried a white cross bearing the words “Respect Ebola” written in red, symbolising concerns among residents about the potential health risks associated with the quarantine centre.
The facility is intended to accommodate American citizens who may have been exposed to the Ebola virus but are not showing symptoms of infection. According to U.S. officials, individuals who later develop symptoms would be transferred to other countries for specialised medical treatment.
The project forms part of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump’s strategy to prevent Ebola cases from entering the United States.
Washington has repeatedly stated that it will not permit potentially infected individuals to be treated on American soil, marking a departure from practices adopted during the 2014–2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, when several infected U.S. nationals received treatment in the United States.
The Trump administration has insisted that it “cannot and will not allow” Ebola cases into the country and has defended the establishment of overseas quarantine facilities as a precautionary public health measure.
However, the plan has sparked significant controversy in Kenya, where critics argue that the arrangement effectively shifts the burden of managing potential Ebola exposure to a third country.
The dispute has also moved into the courts. Kenyan judges have issued orders blocking further work on the project while legal challenges are considered.
Despite those rulings, U.S. military aircraft have continued transporting personnel and equipment into the base, according to diplomatic sources, U.S. officials and publicly available flight-tracking data. Several additional flights are reportedly expected to arrive in the coming days.
Satellite imagery reviewed by international media organisations indicates that construction activity has continued within the air base. Images show an expanding network of white tents and temporary structures spread across approximately 11 acres of land that has been cleared since late May.
The growing construction footprint has fuelled further concerns among local residents, who argue that authorities are proceeding with the project before outstanding legal questions have been resolved.
Washington has stated that it is aware of the legal objections and is “working with the Kenyan government to resolve any concerns” surrounding the project.
Kenyan government have attempted to reassure the public by emphasising that the facility could also be used to support Kenyan citizens and foreign nationals if required during future public health emergencies.
Ebola Preparedness Plan Sparks Tensions in Central Kenya
The controversy comes as East Africa remains on high alert over the spread of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has triggered a major outbreak centred in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The outbreak has already resulted in hundreds of confirmed infections and prompted neighbouring countries, including Uganda and Kenya, to strengthen border screening measures and preparedness efforts.
Health experts have warned that containing the virus requires close regional cooperation, robust surveillance systems and public trust in health interventions.
In Nanyuki, however, distrust surrounding the quarantine facility continues to grow.
Many residents argue that while they support efforts to combat Ebola, they do not want their community to become a focal point for managing exposure cases linked to an outbreak occurring outside Kenya’s borders.
As legal proceedings continue and construction activity appears to advance, the dispute is increasingly becoming a test of how governments balance public health preparedness, international cooperation and local community concerns during cross-border disease emergencies.
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