Katiba Institute Moves To Cite State Officials For Contempt Over Laikipia Ebola Facility Dispute
News Updated: 10 June 2026 20:21 EAT
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Katiba Institute has moved back to court seeking contempt proceedings against senior government officials, including the Attorney-General and Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, over the disputed Ebola quarantine and treatment facility planned at Laikipia Air Base. The organisation argues that the officials have disregarded earlier High Court orders that temporarily halted any steps toward establishing or operationalising the facility pending full determination of the constitutional petition.
The legal dispute stems from a High Court conservatory order issued in late May 2026 that stopped the government from proceeding with the project. The order barred any transfer, admission, or hosting of Ebola-exposed or infected individuals in Kenya under the arrangement, effectively freezing implementation of the bilateral health preparedness plan with the United States.
Despite the court’s directive, Katiba Institute alleges that activities associated with the project have continued at the Laikipia site. The petitioners claim there has been ongoing movement of personnel and materials linked to the planned facility, an action they interpret as direct defiance of the court’s instructions. This forms the basis of the contempt application now before the judiciary.
The government, however, maintains that the arrangement is part of broader disease preparedness efforts aligned with international health standards. Officials argue that the facility is intended to strengthen regional response capacity for Ebola outbreaks in neighboring countries and is consistent with global disease control obligations under international frameworks.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has defended the project in court filings, stating that Kenya’s participation in such preparedness mechanisms is informed by international health regulations and coordination with global health authorities. The government insists that the initiative is preventive in nature and not an indication of any imminent health threat within the country.
Katiba Institute and allied petitioners counter that the project was initiated without adequate public participation and full disclosure of its potential health, environmental, and security implications. They maintain that decisions involving such a sensitive facility require broader consultation and transparency given the risks associated with handling highly infectious diseases.
Concerns have also been raised by local stakeholders in Laikipia, including county officials who have expressed reservations about hosting the facility. They argue that the region may not have sufficient infrastructure or preparedness capacity to manage the potential risks associated with Ebola quarantine operations.
The dispute has drawn heightened public attention following reports of continued activity at the air base despite the court order, including logistical movements linked to the proposed facility. This has intensified scrutiny over whether judicial directives are being fully implemented by state agencies involved in the project.
Public protests have also emerged in parts of Laikipia, with residents expressing fear over possible health risks and disruptions to local economic activity. Security agencies have occasionally intervened to manage demonstrations as tensions around the project continue to rise.
The contempt application now places the High Court in a position to determine whether there has been deliberate non-compliance with its earlier orders. The court is expected to assess whether the actions of the named officials constitute disregard of judicial authority while the substantive petition challenging the facility remains pending.
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FELIX MAKONA
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