NANYUKI, Kenya — Kenyan police fired tear gas and water cannon on Tuesday to disperse hundreds of protesters opposing the construction of a U.S.-backed Ebola quarantine facility at the Laikipia Air Base, a project that has drawn mounting legal and public opposition.
The planned 50-bed isolation unit, intended for Americans exposed to Ebola, has sparked anger among residents who accuse Washington of shifting the burden of managing exposure cases from outbreaks in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Authorities have continued building the facility despite court orders halting further work.
Demonstrators gathered in multiple parts of Nanyuki, a town adjacent to the military base where the facility is being developed. Some waved Kenyan flags, while others carried placards rejecting the project. Police detained at least 10 people during the dispersal, according to a Reuters witness.
Tensions have escalated in the area following earlier protests in which two people were killed last week. Residents say uncertainty surrounding the project has disrupted daily life and affected tourism activity linked to nearby attractions, including Mount Kenya and wildlife conservancies.
Protesters also voiced political anger, directing chants at President William Ruto and accusing the government of ignoring public concerns. Authorities have defended the project as part of broader health preparedness efforts, though public communication remains limited.
A Kenyan High Court has twice ordered the government to halt construction and suspend operations at the site. The latest ruling required officials to disclose all agreements and operational protocols related to the facility within one week.
Legal representatives challenging the project said the deadline expired without compliance, raising further questions about government adherence to judicial directives.
The U.S. government has said the facility is intended for asymptomatic Americans exposed to the virus, with symptomatic patients to be treated elsewhere. Washington has also stated it is working with Kenyan authorities to address legal objections.
Despite the court orders, flight tracking data and diplomatic sources indicate continued movement of U.S. personnel and equipment into the area, while satellite imagery reviewed by Reuters shows expanded temporary structures within the air base.
The proposed site forms part of a broader U.S. Ebola response effort, even as Kenyan officials say the facility may also serve local and foreign nationals. The U.S. has separately committed $13.5 million to Kenya’s Ebola preparedness programs.
Authorities have not yet indicated whether construction will be suspended in compliance with court rulings, as legal and public opposition continues to intensify.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
