Kenyan President William Ruto defended a planned US-backed Ebola quarantine facility at a military air base in central Kenya, saying it was part of a wider national preparedness plan and a long-running health partnership with Washington.
Last week, Kenya approved a US request to establish a facility at a military air base in central Kenya for Americans who may have been exposed to Ebola.
Residents and local leaders in Nanyuki, near the base, held a protest on Monday against the planned facility, saying they feared it could expose the community to Ebola and questioning why Kenya should host a quarantine centre for US citizens. The protest followed growing public criticism of the arrangement and legal action seeking to halt the project.
‘Nothing unusual’
Speaking for the first time about the facility, Ruto said it was not unusual and was similar to others already established in Kenya.
“The facility that is at Laikipia Air Base is not a facility different from all the other facilities that we have across Kenya,” Ruto told reporters in northern Kenya late on Monday, urging Kenyans not to doubt the government’s preparedness.
The Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda are battling the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus in an outbreak that has so far killed 48 people and been declared a public health emergency of international concern by the WHO. The outbreak is outpacing the global response, which got off to a late start.
‘We know what we are doing’
Ruto said he approved the facility after US President Donald Trump asked Kenya to support it, citing decades of cooperation with Washington on health programmes including HIV/AIDS, Ebola and COVID-19.
The president said Kenya had prepared isolation, surveillance and treatment facilities in 23 counties, adding the facility would serve Kenyans as well as foreign partners, including Americans, if needed.
Ruto dismissed criticism of the plan, saying Kenya had a duty to prepare for any potential Ebola cases, including among Kenyans living or serving in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“We are a responsible government. We know what we are doing,” he said.
Court orders temporary suspension
A court last week temporarily suspended the plan after a lawsuit argued the site could endanger public health. Ruto did not acknowledge the existence of the court order.
A US military C-130 transport plane flew into Nanyuki as recently as Friday afternoon, according to the flight-tracking service Flightradar24.
Two Nanyuki residents also reported seeing military aircraft flying towards the base over the weekend, though Reuters was unable to confirm if they were US aircraft.
Kenya has tightened screening at land and air borders and is screening about 3 000 people daily, Ruto said, adding that no Ebola cases had been detected in the country.
- Kenyan President William Ruto defended the US-backed Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base, emphasizing it is part of Kenya’s national preparedness and long-term health partnerships with the US.
- The facility will isolate Americans potentially exposed to Ebola, amid a regional outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, which has killed 48 people.
- Local protests and legal action arose in Nanyuki, with residents fearing Ebola exposure and questioning why Kenya should host a US quarantine center; a court temporarily suspended the project.
- Ruto highlighted Kenya’s ongoing health preparedness, including isolation and surveillance across 23 counties, and reiterated Kenya’s responsible governance and cooperation with the US on health matters.
- Despite the court suspension, US military flights have been reported near the base, and Kenya continues to screen thousands daily at borders, with no confirmed Ebola cases domestically.
Last week,
Residents and local leaders in
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Ruto said he approved the facility after US President Donald Trump asked
Ruto dismissed criticism of the plan, saying
"We are a responsible government. We know what we are doing," he said.
A court last week temporarily suspended the plan after a lawsuit argued the site could endanger public health. Ruto did not acknowledge the existence of the court order.
A US military C-130 transport plane flew into
Two
