A court in Kenya has temporarily blocked a controversial plan to host a quarantine facility for United States citizens exposed to Ebola, following mounting opposition from health professionals and rights groups.
High Court Judge Patricia Nyaundi ordered the suspension of the agreement pending the outcome of a legal challenge filed by activists, with the case expected to be heard next week.
The proposed arrangement involved isolating US nationals who may have been exposed to Ebola in a facility in Kenya, a country that currently has no reported cases of the virus. The plan, reportedly linked to support from the United States, sparked concerns over transparency and public health risks.
Concerns over secrecy and safety
The Katiba Institute, a Kenyan legal and rights organisation, argued in court that the project was introduced without adequate public participation or parliamentary approval. It warned that bringing potentially exposed individuals into the country could expose Kenya to unnecessary health risks.
Medical associations and legal bodies also criticised the plan, saying the country lacked sufficient high-level biosecurity infrastructure to safely manage such a facility. The Kenyan doctors’ union went further, accusing authorities of endangering citizens in exchange for foreign assistance.
Background to the outbreak
The dispute comes as Ebola cases linked to an outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo continue to rise, with additional infections reported in neighbouring Uganda. Health officials say more than 200 deaths have been recorded, while thousands of suspected cases are under monitoring.
The outbreak, driven by the Bundibugyo strain, is considered particularly difficult to control due to limited medical resources and ongoing conflict in affected regions.
Government response unclear
While Kenyan authorities have acknowledged discussions with Washington on Ebola preparedness support, they have not publicly confirmed details of the quarantine plan or its approval process.
US officials have reportedly suggested the facility would include around 50 isolation beds and be operated by American medical personnel at a military base located roughly 200 kilometres from Nairobi.
For now, the court order pauses implementation until further judicial review, leaving the future of the proposed arrangement uncertain.
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