Several arrested as protests erupt over planned US-backed Ebola isolation facility in Kenya

Security operatives in Kenya on Tuesday arrested several demonstrators during renewed protests against the construction of an Ebola isolation facility in the country’s central region.

The controversial project, located at Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki near Mount Kenya, is designed to quarantine American citizens arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where health authorities continue to battle an Ebola outbreak.

Opposition to the facility has intensified in recent weeks, with many residents expressing fears that hosting travellers from Ebola-affected areas could expose Kenya to the deadly virus despite the country never having recorded a confirmed Ebola case.

Dozens of protesters gathered near the military installation, some dressed in protective suits and carrying symbolic props, including a coffin labelled “Ebola,” to dramatise their concerns over the project.

Witnesses reported that police dispersed the demonstrators using tear gas after tensions escalated. Several persons were taken into custody during the operation.

One protester, Zipporah Wachira, argued that Kenya should not be used as a quarantine destination for potential Ebola carriers.

“We do not have Ebola in our country. Bringing people who may be exposed to the virus here creates unnecessary risks for our citizens,” she said.

The isolation centre, which is expected to accommodate up to 50 patients, is being funded by the United States and will reportedly be operated by American personnel. Construction was said to be nearing completion before a temporary court order halted further work.

The project has generated widespread debate across Kenya, particularly in Laikipia County, where local leaders and community groups have questioned the government’s decision to approve the facility.

Earlier demonstrations against the project were recorded on June 1. Human rights organisations later reported fatalities linked to the unrest, although authorities have not officially established the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Despite the opposition, President William Ruto’s administration has defended the initiative, citing the longstanding health partnership between Kenya and the United States.

According to government officials, the facility is part of broader efforts to strengthen regional preparedness against infectious disease outbreaks and will also be available to support Kenya’s public health response when necessary.

Kenya’s Ministry of Health has maintained that the centre is not exclusively for American nationals and could serve local needs during future health emergencies.

The United States has committed approximately $13.5 million to support Kenya’s Ebola preparedness and response capacity.

The development follows growing international concern over the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has prompted the World Health Organisation to declare a global public health emergency.

Health authorities have reported hundreds of confirmed infections and dozens of fatalities linked to the outbreak, while neighbouring Uganda has also recorded imported cases involving travellers from the DRC.