Nanyuki residents protest over proposed U.S-linked Ebola quarantine facility 

Hundreds of residents in Nanyuki today, June 1, 2026 took to the streets to protest plans to establish a U.S.-linked Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base, amid growing public concern over the project’s health, legal and security implications.

The irate demonstrators were blocked by a contingent of Kenya Airforce personnel outside the Laikipia Airbase as they push to have plans to set up the Ebola containment unit for US citizens abolished.

The protests coincided with Kenya’s 63^rd celebrations since gaining internal self -rule from the British colonialists at a time leaders, professionals and lobbyist are agitating against neocolonialism.

The demonstrators, largely comprising youth and community members, marched through the town carrying placards and tree branches while demanding the complete cancellation of the facility.

Protesters expressed fears that the project could expose local communities to serious health risks and potentially increase the likelihood of an Ebola outbreak in the region.

The demonstrations took place despite a recent High Court order temporarily halting the project pending the determination of a legal challenge. Protesters insisted that a suspension was not sufficient and called for the plan to be abandoned altogether.

“It is the Ebola facility they plan to construct here that we do not want,” one demonstrator said during the march.

Videos and photographs from the scene showed large crowds moving through major streets in Nanyuki, with some protesters blocking roads as they voiced opposition to the proposed facility.

Security was significantly heightened across the town, with police officers and military personnel deployed to monitor the demonstrations.

Tensions escalated later in the day after authorities attempted to disperse protesters and prevent them from approaching the military installation, resulting in running battles between police and demonstrators in some parts of the town.

The controversy centres on reports that Kenya has approved a request by the United States government to establish an Ebola quarantine and treatment facility at Laikipia Air Base for American citizens exposed to the ongoing outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in parts of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to reports, U.S. officials indicated that Kenya had granted written authorisation allowing access to land within the military facility where the quarantine centre would be established.

Questions continue to be raised about transparency, national preparedness and Kenya’s role in responding to international health emergencies.

The Kenyan government has maintained that the project forms part of the country’s obligations to support international public health responses and global disease containment efforts.

Officials have also insisted that adequate safeguards would be put in place to protect the public.

Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr Ouma Oluga defended the government’s position, arguing that Kenya has developed sufficient capacity to handle infectious disease outbreaks and continues to play an important role in global health security.

Dr Oluga said investments made during the COVID-19 pandemic had significantly strengthened Kenya’s preparedness for managing infectious diseases and that mechanisms were in place to ensure the safety of citizens while supporting international disease response efforts.

However, opposition to the proposed facility has continued to grow among medical professionals, legal bodies, local leaders and members of the public.

The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) has strongly criticised the reported arrangement, accusing the government of engaging in what it described as “backdoor negotiations” that could expose Kenya to unnecessary biosecurity risks.

In a statement issued on May 28, KMPDU Secretary General Dr Davji Bhimji Atella questioned the rationale behind Kenya hosting individuals exposed to a disease outbreak originating outside its borders.

“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 asked.

The doctors’ union further demanded the full disclosure of any bilateral agreement related to the project, insisting that Kenyans have a right to know the terms under which the country may be assuming responsibility for foreign biosecurity risks.

KMPDU also criticised the proposal at a time when many public hospitals continue to face shortages of medicines, diagnostic supplies and critical care equipment.

“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 union said.

Similarly, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) has urged the government to reject any proposal to establish an Ebola treatment facility in the country.

LSK President Charles Kanjama argued that while Ebola patients deserve access to quality healthcare, treatment centres should be located near the outbreak zones to minimise public health risks.

“We equally want to see the Kenyan government take robust measures to avoid cases of Ebola from entering Kenya. That includes declining the request by the US government to set up an Ebola Treatment Centre in Kenya, where Ebola patients from other countries will be flown in,” Kanjama said.

He maintained that treatment and isolation facilities should instead be established closer to the source of infection in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo or western Uganda.

The controversy is now expected to shift to Parliament, where Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and senior Ministry of Health officials are scheduled to appear before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health on Tuesday, June 2.

The committee has summoned the officials to explain the government’s approval of the project, the legal framework governing the arrangement, and the potential public health implications of hosting the facility.

Lawmakers are also expected to seek clarification on the reported agreement between Kenya and the United States, as well as measures that would be put in place to guarantee the safety of surrounding communities.