By Gloria Ogbonna
Tensions over a planned Ebola quarantine facility at a Kenyan military base turned deadly this week after two people were reportedly shot and killed during protests in central Kenya, sparking renewed controversy over the government’s cooperation with the United States and raising concerns about public trust, transparency, and health security.
The violence occurred Monday near Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki, where hundreds of demonstrators gathered to oppose plans for a U.S.-supported Ebola isolation center intended to accommodate American citizens who may be exposed to the deadly virus during the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
According to reports, one victim was shot near the site of the demonstration and later died after being taken to a local hospital by friends. A second victim was reportedly transported to the hospital by soldiers but was declared dead upon arrival.
One of the deceased was later identified by family members as 27-year-old Charles Mang’aro Mwangi. His relatives insist he was not participating in the protest and was simply traveling through the area when the shooting occurred.
Speaking to reporters, Mwangi’s mother said her son had left home briefly to visit a friend and was not involved in any confrontation with authorities.
“He did not carry stones and was not throwing anything at the police. He was just on the road, minding his own business, when he was shot,” she said, suggesting that law enforcement officers were responsible for the fatal shooting.
The deaths have intensified public anger surrounding the controversial Ebola facility, which is being constructed at Laikipia Air Base, a military installation located near Nanyuki in central Kenya.
The United States government announced plans to establish a 50-bed bio-isolation center at the base as part of its emergency preparedness strategy in response to the Ebola outbreak currently affecting parts of the DRC. U.S. officials have argued that the facility would allow Americans potentially exposed to the virus to receive rapid medical monitoring and quarantine close to the outbreak zone.
American officials explained that Kenya was selected because of its strategic location and infrastructure, which would allow for quicker medical evacuations and treatment if necessary. Other regional airports were reportedly considered but were determined to have insufficient capacity to support specialized medical flights.
Despite growing public concern, U.S. officials have repeatedly stated that no American Ebola patients are currently scheduled for transfer to the facility.
“At this moment in time, we are not aware of any Americans who are set to be transferred to the bio-isolation facility,” one U.S. official said, emphasizing that the center is intended as a precautionary measure rather than an active treatment site.
Construction efforts accelerated after U.S. Air Force aircraft reportedly landed at Laikipia Air Base last week carrying equipment, supplies, and personnel associated with the project.
The controversy comes amid broader cooperation between Washington and Nairobi on public health initiatives. Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Kenyan President William Ruto regarding regional Ebola preparedness efforts.
During those discussions, the United States pledged an additional $13.5 million in support for Kenya’s Ebola response capabilities, adding to more than $112 million in health-related assistance already committed to the region.
Kenyan government officials have maintained that the facility would not serve Americans exclusively. They say the center could also be used by Kenyan military personnel and civilians should an Ebola-related emergency arise within the country.
However, those assurances have done little to calm public fears.
Opposition to the project has spread rapidly across Kenya, with critics accusing the government of failing to adequately consult the public before approving the facility. The controversy soon escalated into a legal battle after the Law Society of Kenya joined forces with medical professionals to challenge the project in court.
The plaintiffs argued that Kenya risked becoming a “geopolitical isolation ward” and a “dumping ground” for international health crises. They also raised concerns about whether the country’s healthcare infrastructure could safely manage potential Ebola cases and questioned the lack of transparency surrounding the agreement.
In response, Kenya’s High Court issued temporary orders blocking the opening of the facility and prohibiting the transfer of Ebola-infected individuals into the country. The court also instructed the government to disclose full details regarding the project and its operational plans.
President Ruto addressed the controversy publicly for the first time on Monday, expressing surprise at the scale of opposition and defending his administration’s decision.
“The facility that is at Laikipia Air Base is not a facility different from all the other facilities that we have across Kenya,” Ruto said.
The president emphasized that Kenya has decades of experience handling infectious disease outbreaks and has worked closely with international partners, including the United States, on major health initiatives involving HIV/AIDS, Ebola, and COVID-19.
“When President Donald Trump asked the government of Kenya to support them by having a center at Laikipia Air Base, I gave the okay because it was an agreement and a partnership with friends who have worked with Kenya for 30 or 40 years,” Ruto explained.
He praised the longstanding relationship between the two countries, noting that American support has contributed significantly to Kenya’s public health programs and scientific research efforts.
“The American government has supported us. They have deployed huge resources in Kenya to work with us on HIV/AIDS and other diseases. They worked with us on Ebola,” Ruto said. “In fact, KEMRI was one of the institutions that worked on research on the vaccines for COVID because we have a solid partnership with America and other partners.”
KEMRI, the Kenya Medical Research Institute, is one of the country’s leading biomedical research institutions and has collaborated with international organizations on numerous disease-control programs.
Despite the president’s appeal, public resistance continued to grow. Hundreds of protesters marched through Nanyuki on Monday, blocking roads, burning tires, and carrying signs condemning the proposed facility.
Many demonstrators voiced fears that Kenya was being unfairly selected to host a quarantine center for foreign nationals while neighboring countries closer to the outbreak were not.
“Why are they not doing it in the DRC? Why are they not doing it in Uganda? Why must they bring it here?” one protester asked.
Others demanded that the project be canceled entirely.
“We categorically say no. No negotiations, no public participation. We want nothing. We want that facility taken out of our town and taken out of Kenya,” another demonstrator declared.
The dispute remains unresolved. Construction work at Laikipia Air Base has reportedly continued despite legal challenges, and additional flights linked to the project arrived this week.
While Kenya’s High Court recently ordered a three-week delay before the facility can become operational, reports indicate that American officials believe the center could be ready to receive individuals under quarantine protocols within days.
Adding to the political sensitivity of the issue, diplomatic communications reportedly warned that the Kenyan government may have underestimated public opposition to the project. Analysts note that frustration over rising fuel prices, economic hardship, and lingering memories of deadly anti-government protests in 2024 have created a volatile environment in which the Ebola controversy has become a broader symbol of public dissatisfaction.
Seeking to ease concerns, the U.S. State Department clarified Wednesday that the facility would primarily be used to monitor American citizens who may have been exposed to Ebola but are not showing symptoms. Officials stressed that anyone who later developed active symptoms would be transferred elsewhere for specialized treatment.
Nevertheless, the deaths of two individuals during Monday’s demonstrations have intensified scrutiny of the project and raised new questions about how both governments will navigate growing public opposition in the weeks ahead.
As legal challenges continue and emotions remain high, the future of the Laikipia Ebola facility—and the broader U.S.-Kenya health partnership surrounding it—remains uncertain.
Source Breitbart
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