A protest occurred in Nanyuki, Kenya, against a plan to set up an Ebola quarantine center at Laikipia Air Base. The demonstration, held on June 1, 2026, involved hundreds of youths expressing their opposition.
Kenya’s High Court recently suspended the establishment of this facility. This decision came after the Law Society of Kenya and a constitutional watchdog filed a case citing the country’s fragile health system as a concern for hosting foreign Ebola patients.
U.S. officials disclosed plans to quarantine Americans exposed to Ebola in Kenya rather than returning them to the United States. The proposed facility would be at Laikipia Air Base and expected to contain 50 beds. Health Minister Aden Duale clarified that the quarantine center would serve all and not only U.S. nationals.
The U.S. government plans to allocate $13.5 million to enhance Kenya’s Ebola readiness, as shared by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Despite this, local leaders, including Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu, voiced strong opposition, fearing exposure to Ebola for those working at the air base.
Local resident Malin Ndegwa questioned the decision to host the site in Kenya, suggesting countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo or Uganda as alternatives. He insisted, “We want that facility taken out of our town, we want it taken out of Kenya.”
Although Kenya itself has not experienced Ebola cases, neighboring Uganda reported nine cases and closed its border with Congo. In contrast, Congo is facing over 1,000 suspected cases of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which currently lacks approved treatments or vaccines.