Hundreds of residents marched through the central Kenyan town of Nanyuki on Monday to protest plans by the United States to establish an Ebola quarantine facility at a military base in the area, days after a court temporarily halted the project.
The planned 50-bed quarantine unit is to be located at an air force base in Nanyuki, in Kenya’s Laikipia County. According to US officials, the facility would house American citizens exposed to Ebola who are not showing symptoms.
Kenya’s High Court on Friday ordered a temporary suspension of the project following a lawsuit arguing that the facility could pose risks to public health.
Kenya’s Health Minister, Aden Duale, defended the plan on Saturday, saying the facility forms part of broader efforts to strengthen emergency response systems.
Despite the court order, military aircraft continued operating in and out of Nanyuki over the weekend. Diplomats and security experts said the flights appeared to be linked to preparations for the quarantine unit.
Video footage from Monday showed demonstrators gathered near the proposed site, blowing whistles and carrying out a roadside protest. Smoke was seen rising from a burning object on the road. While footage captured about 100 people, local residents estimated the turnout was several hundred.
Kenyan broadcasters NTV Kenya and Citizen Kenya showed protesters gathered outside the air base, where a tank and a small number of soldiers were stationed.
Patrick Wahome, one of the protest organisers, said residents wanted the facility permanently shut down by June 9.
“Nanyuki is a very small town. The military personnel who serve the base… live with us. Our kids go to the same schools and that means if anyone is infected, we are all infected,” he said.
“We are picketing for our lives,” he added.
Local café owner Patrick Maina said the demonstrations had already affected businesses.
“We haven’t opened since morning and it’s likely to be worse tomorrow,” he told Reuters.
Flight-tracking data showed a US military C-130 transport aircraft arrived in Nanyuki on Friday afternoon. Residents also reported seeing military aircraft heading towards the base during the weekend, although Reuters could not independently verify whether they were US aircraft.
The dispute has become a growing source of concern in the town as residents question the safety of hosting a quarantine facility, while Kenyan and US officials maintain that the project is intended to strengthen preparedness for potential Ebola outbreaks.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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