Many arrested as Kenyans protest American Ebola quarantine centre

Several protesters were arrested on Monday as demonstrations intensified against the construction of an Ebola quarantine centre intended to accommodate American citizens arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the central Kenyan tourist town of Nanyuki.

The facility, located at the Laikipia Air Base beneath the slopes of Mount Kenya, is designed to quarantine Americans travelling from the DRC, where authorities continue to battle a significant Ebola outbreak.

Police moved to disperse demonstrators who gathered near the air base, firing tear gas and arresting several individuals after protesters staged a symbolic display by carrying a coffin bearing the inscription “Ebola.” Some demonstrators also wore protective gear to express their opposition to the project.

Kenya has never recorded a confirmed case of Ebola, a fact protesters cited as justification for resisting the establishment of the quarantine facility.

“We don’t have that disease in this country… they are bringing a virus into our country,” one protester, 30-year-old Zipporah Wachira, said during the demonstration.

The quarantine centre, which is nearing completion, is expected to house 50 isolation beds and be operated by American personnel. The project has generated controversy since it was announced, triggering an earlier round of protests on June 1. Human rights groups reported that two people died during those demonstrations, although the circumstances surrounding the deaths remain unclear.

Construction was temporarily halted following an order by Kenya’s High Court, while local political leaders in Laikipia have openly opposed the initiative.

Despite the resistance, President William Ruto’s administration has insisted the project will proceed, citing the longstanding health partnership between Kenya and the United States.

Speaking last week, President Ruto defended the decision, saying the United States had supported Kenya’s health sector for nearly three decades.

“The American people and government have been partners with us on matters of health for close to 25 to 30 years,” he said, adding that rejecting Washington’s request to establish the facility would appear “very inhuman.”

Kenya’s Health Ministry has also sought to reassure the public, maintaining that the facility would serve both Kenyan and American nationals if necessary.

The United States has pledged approximately $13.5 million to strengthen Kenya’s Ebola preparedness, including support for the quarantine centre.

Many arrested as Kenyans protest American Ebola quarantine centre