MPs summons Duale as KMPDU oppose planned US-linked Ebola quarantine unit
The Parliamentary Departmental Committee on Health has summoned Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and other senior ministry officials to appear before it on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, to explain the government’s contentious approval and the nature of the arrangement of an Ebola quarantine facility for United States of America citizens exposed to the deadly strain in the country.
They are expected to clarify the scope, legality, and public health implications of the proposed facility, amid growing concerns from medical professionals and lawmakers over transparency and national preparedness.
This comes even as the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) strongly opposed reported plans by the Kenyan government and the United States administration to establish an Ebola quarantine and treatment facility at Laikipia Air Base, raising concerns over national biosecurity, transparency, and public health priorities.
In a statement issued on Thursday, May 28, 2026, KMPDU Secretary General Dr Davji Bhimji Atella accused the government of engaging in what he termed “backdoor negotiations” that could expose Kenya to unnecessary health risks.
The union warned that the proposed arrangement risks turning Kenya into a “containment colony” for a disease outbreak originating outside the country.
The doctors’ union questioned the rationale behind selecting Kenya to host individuals exposed or infected with the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola reported in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. It also called for immediate clarification from Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the reported agreement.
“If the United States believes the 12-hour medevac flight back to Washington is too dangerous for its citizens, by what logic is it safe to fly infected or exposed individuals into Kenyan airspace?” the union questioned in its statement.
KMPDU further demanded the full disclosure of any bilateral agreement related to the facility, insisting that Kenyans have a right to understand the terms under which the country may be assuming responsibility for foreign biosecurity risks. The union also criticised the proposal at a time when Kenya’s public health system is grappling with shortages of essential medicines, diagnostic supplies, and critical care infrastructure.
It argued that many public hospitals remain under-resourced and overstretched, making the establishment of a specialised Ebola facility a misaligned priority. “It is the height of irony and betrayal that while the Ministry of Health claims our local public facilities are too broke to function, it is actively facilitating the importation of a deadly haemorrhagic fever,” the statement read.
KMPDU urged the government to instead focus on strengthening domestic health systems and addressing preventable deaths in underfunded hospitals.
However, Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr Ouma Oluga defended Kenya’s preparedness, stating that the country has developed sufficient capacity to handle infectious disease outbreaks and continues to play an active role in global health security.
He noted that investments made during the COVID-19 pandemic had significantly improved Kenya’s ability to respond to such emergencies.
The PS also said the government has put in place adequate safeguards to protect Kenyans while supporting international disease response efforts, amid reports that the United States may transfer Ebola-exposed individuals to Kenya for treatment and isolation.
Meanwhile, reports have emerged that Kenya has approved a United States request to establish an Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base for American citizens exposed to the ongoing outbreak in the region.
According to U.S. officials cited by Reuters, Kenya granted written authorization allowing the U.S. access to land at the military installation in central Kenya where the facility is expected to be developed.
