By Gloria Ogbonna
Tensions surrounding the construction of a U.S.-funded Ebola treatment and quarantine facility in Kenya escalated dramatically this week after protesters alleged that police used deadly force during demonstrations, resulting in the death of at least one protester and multiple arrests.
Leaders of the protest movement claim that Kenyan police shot a demonstrator in the head during a confrontation on Tuesday, while also firing live ammunition at crowds and detaining numerous participants. The incident has intensified public anger over the controversial project and sparked renewed criticism of the government’s handling of the situation.
Protest organizer Patrick Wahome and several eyewitnesses told Reuters that the demonstrator was fatally shot during the protest. Although Reuters reporters did not witness the shooting itself, they reported seeing the victim’s body lying motionless inside a police vehicle with what appeared to be a severe head wound.
The incident has fueled accusations that Kenyan security forces are using excessive force against citizens protesting the construction of the Ebola facility, which is being built with American support near the town of Nanyuki.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), a prominent rights organization, condemned the police response and accused authorities of attacking both demonstrators and journalists covering the event. According to the organization, officers wearing hoods allegedly assaulted protesters and members of the media while attempting to disperse the crowds.
KHRC said Tuesday’s fatal shooting raised the number of deaths connected to the Ebola facility protests to three.
“Today, police shot the third victim in the head. No accident there. Police act with open impunity, following orders from their command and the regime that has made it clear that our lives mean nothing to them,” the organization said in a statement.
The rights group called for an immediate investigation and demanded accountability from both the officers involved and their superiors.
“IPOA must move fast. The officers responsible must be held criminally liable for these killings. So should their command. No cover-ups,” KHRC stated.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), Kenya’s police watchdog agency, has frequently investigated allegations of excessive force by law enforcement officers and is facing mounting pressure to examine the latest incidents.
In another statement, KHRC accused police of employing lethal force against residents who posed no threat.
“More disturbing evidence is surfacing. Police are unleashing deadly force on unarmed Nanyuki residents who pose zero threat and have already surrendered. KHRC is documenting this brutality for legal action,” the organization said.
At the center of the controversy is a 50-bed quarantine and treatment facility currently under construction at Laikipia Air Base near Nanyuki. The facility is being built by the United States as part of a regional effort to prepare for and respond to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
U.S. officials have defended the project, saying the location was selected because of its strategic proximity to the outbreak zone and its ability to receive medical evacuation flights. The initiative was approved by Kenyan President William Ruto and is accompanied by approximately $13.5 million in Ebola preparedness funding provided by the United States.
However, many local residents and activists remain deeply suspicious of the project. Critics argue that Kenya is being turned into what they describe as a “geopolitical isolation ward” for Ebola patients from other countries. Opponents have filed lawsuits seeking to halt construction and force the government to release details of agreements related to the facility.
Some residents fear that an accidental breach could expose local communities to the deadly virus, while others worry about the long-term economic consequences.
Nanyuki, known for its tourism industry and proximity to wildlife attractions, depends heavily on visitors and investment. Business owners and residents have expressed concerns that the presence of an Ebola treatment center could discourage tourists and damage the region’s reputation.
Critics also accuse the government of failing to properly consult local communities before approving the project. Many say the lack of transparency has fueled mistrust and created the perception that major decisions are being made without public input.
President Ruto has attempted to reassure citizens by stating that the facility could potentially be used to treat Kenyan patients if Ebola were to enter the country. However, U.S. officials have not publicly confirmed whether treating Kenyan patients is part of the formal agreement.
Reporting from the scene of Tuesday’s demonstrations, Al Jazeera correspondent Malcolm Webb described widespread skepticism among protesters.
“This has gone on for hours and all the demonstrators say that they don’t believe the government’s claim that this Ebola facility will bring them any benefit; they’re deeply skeptical. They say they don’t want this facility in their town,” Webb reported.
The controversy has also drawn international attention. Dr. Craig Spencer, a public health expert at Brown University who survived Ebola after treating patients in Guinea during the 2014 outbreak, suggested that many Kenyans view the project through the lens of historical power imbalances between Western nations and African countries.
“People on the street in Kenya are angry because for many of them, this looks like colonial decision-making all over again—that foreign powers can come into a country, make decisions, and impose them without meaningful local consultation,” Spencer said during an interview with NPR.
Spencer noted that public frustration may have been intensified by statements from President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasizing that Ebola patients would not be brought to the United States. Some Kenyans have interpreted those remarks as evidence that Western governments are willing to shift health risks onto African nations.
He also raised concerns about whether a temporary quarantine facility would provide the same level of care and resources as a fully equipped hospital in the United States.
Kenyan physician Bill Muriuki echoed those concerns, criticizing both the government’s communication strategy and the lack of public disclosure surrounding the agreement.
“Kenyans only became aware of it when the Secretary of State for the United States, Marco Rubio, announced it. That’s when citizens learned about the project—not from our own government,” Muriuki told Al Jazeera. “To date, the agreement itself has not been made public, so we still do not know exactly what benefits, obligations, or protections exist for Kenyans.”
Adding to the controversy, Kenya’s High Court has issued multiple injunctions aimed at slowing or halting construction while legal challenges proceed. Despite those court actions, reports indicate that construction has continued, with American personnel, equipment, and supplies arriving at the site as recently as this week.
As legal battles continue and public opposition grows, the Ebola facility has become a flashpoint in a broader debate over public health policy, government transparency, foreign influence, and police conduct. With protesters vowing to continue demonstrations and human rights groups demanding accountability for the recent deaths, the conflict shows little sign of easing in the near future.
Source Breitbart
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