Kenyan Court Temporarily Blocks U.S.-Backed Ebola Quarantine Facility
News Updated: 29 May 2026 10:57 EAT
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The High Court of Kenya has temporarily stopped plans for the establishment of a United States-backed Ebola quarantine facility in Kenya that was intended to host Americans exposed to the virus during the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The court also barred the government from admitting any Ebola-exposed or infected individuals under the arrangement until the matter is fully heard and determined.
Justice Patricia Nyaundi issued conservatory orders after a petition was filed by the Katiba Institute, a constitutional rights organization challenging the legality of the agreement between Kenya and the United States government. The petition questioned the constitutional and public health implications of the proposed arrangement.
The petitioners argued that the agreement had been handled without public participation, parliamentary approval or sufficient transparency. They stated that the move raised concerns over constitutional rights including the right to life, health and access to information.
The proposed quarantine facility was expected to be established at the Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki. Reports indicated that the centre would initially contain a 50-bed quarantine unit designed specifically for American citizens who may have been exposed to Ebola in Congo.
The facility was reportedly set to be operated with support from the U.S. Public Health Service. American medical specialists trained in infectious disease control and Ebola response had already been deployed to Kenya ahead of the expected launch of the programme.
According to U.S. officials, the plan was part of a wider strategy aimed at preventing Ebola cases from reaching American soil. Under the proposed system, exposed Americans would first be isolated in Kenya before any further transfer to specialized treatment centres abroad if they later tested positive.
The plan represented a major shift from previous Ebola outbreak responses where infected American citizens were flown directly back to the United States for treatment in high-security medical facilities. The new arrangement instead relied on third-country quarantine systems.
Kenyan authorities had reportedly approved the proposal before the court intervention. However, reports suggested that Kenyan officials had also proposed expanding the facility to accommodate people of different nationalities rather than limiting it to U.S. citizens only.
The proposed arrangement triggered criticism from sections of the Kenyan public, legal experts, civil society organizations and medical professionals. Many questioned why Kenya was being considered as a quarantine destination for foreign nationals despite having no confirmed Ebola cases.
Health stakeholders also raised concerns over the country’s preparedness to handle a possible Ebola emergency. Medical unions warned that Kenya’s healthcare system was already under pressure due to shortages of staff, equipment, drugs and intensive care resources.
The controversy emerged as the Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo continued to worsen. The outbreak involves the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus, which has caused growing concern among international health agencies because of rising infections and deaths in affected areas.
The High Court directed that no exposed or infected individuals should be brought into Kenya under the programme pending further hearings. The matter is expected to return to court on June 2 as the constitutional challenge against the agreement continues.
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FELIX MAKONA
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