Protests in Kenya Over US-Backed Ebola Quarantine Facility Turn Violent

Police in the central Kenyan town of Nanyuki have used tear gas to disperse demonstrators protesting the construction of a US-supported Ebola quarantine centre at a local air force base.

The facility, intended to hold Americans exposed to Ebola, has sparked widespread anger among residents who accuse the United States of shifting health risks linked to outbreaks in East Africa onto Kenya.

The proposed 50-bed quarantine unit has continued to face resistance despite a court order halting further construction work. Authorities in both Kenya and the US have reportedly maintained support for the project, further fuelling tensions on the ground.

Earlier protests in the region drew hundreds of people and turned deadly, with at least two people killed and one injured during clashes with security forces.

During the latest demonstration, small groups of protesters gathered again, prompting police intervention. Some demonstrators expressed their opposition symbolically, including one carrying a white cross marked with the words “Respect Ebola.”

The project comes amid renewed concern over an Ebola outbreak in parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The World Health Organization recently declared an international public health emergency after detecting a rare strain with no approved vaccines or treatments.

Health experts warn the outbreak could worsen due to delayed detection and reduced international health funding. Recent cuts in US foreign aid have also raised concerns about global outbreak response capacity.

US officials have stated that the quarantine site is intended for asymptomatic Americans exposed to the virus, while those who develop symptoms would be transferred elsewhere for treatment. They also say military flights continue to deliver personnel and equipment despite ongoing legal disputes in Kenya.

Kenyan officials maintain that the facility could also serve local and foreign patients, though US authorities have not publicly confirmed this arrangement.

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