American personnel arrived at Kenya’s Laikipia Air Base on Saturday as preparations continued for a controversial U.S.-backed Ebola isolation facility, despite a court injunction temporarily blocking the project.
The facility is intended to receive Americans exposed to Ebola and will be supported by a specialised team from the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. The team includes physicians, nurses, laboratory technologists, mental health practitioners, and engineers trained to manage infectious disease outbreaks.
The project has sparked intense debate in Kenya, where a High Court recently issued an injunction halting its implementation pending the outcome of a legal challenge. Petitioners argue that hosting an Ebola isolation centre could pose risks to public health and have questioned why the facility appears designed primarily for American citizens.
Government defends plan
Speaking on the controversy, Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary dismissed claims that Ebola patients were being brought into the country.
“There is nowhere where it is said we are bringing Ebola patients to Laikipia,” he said, emphasising that the site is a military facility that will also serve the Kenya Defence Forces and Kenyan citizens.
The minister also defended Kenya’s cooperation with the United States, highlighting decades of American support for the country’s healthcare system. According to him, U.S. assistance has accounted for between 25% and 35% of Kenya’s health budget over the last six decades.
The debate intensified after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Washington would provide Kenya with $13.5 million to strengthen Ebola preparedness efforts following discussions with President William Ruto.
However, opposition to the project continues to grow. Professional bodies, including the doctors’ union and the Law Society of Kenya, have criticised the plan, arguing that Kenya should not become what they describe as a “geopolitical isolation ward.”
Critics also question whether the facility could proceed despite the court order, noting concerns about previous instances in which both Kenyan and U.S. authorities have been accused of disregarding unfavourable judicial rulings.
For many Kenyans, the controversy centres on a broader question. If Ebola is considered too dangerous to manage elsewhere, why should Kenya bear the risk?
The United States said its highest priority remains protecting the health and security of its citizens by preventing the Ebola outbreak from reaching American shores.
