Tension in Nanyuki as 19 arrested during protests over US-linked Ebola quarantine facility plan

At least 19 protesters have been arrested in Nanyuki, Laikipia County, after staging protests opposing the proposed US-linked Ebola facility in the region, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has confirmed.

On Tuesday, residents took to the streets, demanding that President William Ruto’s administration disclose agreements, negotiations, safety checks, approvals and operational protocols related to the proposed facility, while also seeking clear guarantees on public health safety.

One protester was seen carrying a white cross marked with the words “Respect Ebola” in red. However, the protesters were met with tear gas as police moved in to disperse them.

KHRC said it had verified reports and reviewed videos showing police moving through the area on motorbikes and in white Land Cruisers and Subarus with removed or concealed license plates, attacking protesters and journalists.

“The conduct of the police contravenes the law. KHRC demands that police respect the right to protest, provide security for protesters, unconditionally release all those detained, and ensure that they are clearly identifiable. KHRC continues to monitor, document, and respond to reported abuses, to hold police officers and their commanders accountable for violations," the Commission said.

The planned 50-bed facility at Laikipia Air Base has triggered public anger, with residents accusing the US of shifting health risks tied to Ebola exposure cases from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda into Kenya.

Tensions have been rising after two people were killed in earlier protests in Nanyuki last week, as residents continued demonstrations even as Kenyan and US authorities reaffirmed their commitment to the project despite court orders stopping construction.

Donald Trump’s administration has said it "cannot and will not allow" any cases to enter the US, unlike during the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, when infected American citizens were treated on US soil.

The Nanyuki facility is intended for Americans exposed to Ebola who are not yet showing symptoms. Officials have said that patients who develop symptoms would be transferred to other countries for treatment.

US military aircraft have continued ferrying staff and equipment into the area even after court orders blocked the project. According to diplomatic sources and flight tracking data, several more flights are expected this week. Satellite imagery by Reuters shows increasing white tent structures on about 11 acres of land cleared within Laikipia Air Base since May 27.

The United States has said it is aware of the court challenge and is “working with the Kenyan government to resolve any objections.” Kenyan officials have stated that the facility would also serve Kenyans and other foreign nationals, though US officials have not confirmed this position.

Laikipia County Government has also opposed the establishment of the proposed facility, citing concerns over public health, governance, economic impact and child protection.

In a replying affidavit, Laikipia County Executive Committee Member for Health Albert Taiti said the county supports disease preparedness but questions the way the project is being implemented.

Taiti stated that the facility will directly affect residents, institutions, public health systems, emergency response structures, and the county governance framework.

“The 4th Interested Party fully appreciates the primacy of national public health preparedness measures aimed at preventing, detecting and responding to infectious disease outbreaks and public health emergencies,” Taiti said.

However, he argued that decisions involving a high-risk disease such as Ebola require transparency, scientific assessment, stakeholder engagement and constitutional compliance.

The county further argued that the proposed facility threatens residents’ right to the highest attainable standard of health under Article 43 of the Constitution and raises concerns about containment, emergency readiness, and public safety.

The county has now urged the High Court to subject the project to full scrutiny and ensure compliance with public participation rules, intergovernmental consultation, public health safeguards, and the precautionary principle, while also protecting children's and residents’ welfare.