Kenya’s High Court has temporarily stopped a controversial US-backed Ebola quarantine project just hours after the facility officially began operations, following growing public anger and legal challenges over the plan.
The court in Nairobi ordered the Kenyan government to halt the operation and further development of the Ebola quarantine center until a case filed against the project is fully heard and determined.
The United States had planned to use the 50-bed facility to isolate and treat Americans exposed to Ebola while working in Central Africa, particularly eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where the outbreak continues spreading.
The quarantine center is reportedly being established inside a Kenyan air force base and would have been managed by American healthcare personnel alongside US military officials.
The project immediately triggered backlash inside Kenya, with critics accusing the government of failing to explain the agreement reached with Washington or the possible risks facing ordinary Kenyans.
The Law Society of Kenya and the country’s doctors’ union were among groups that openly opposed the arrangement, demanding transparency from President William Ruto’s government.
They called on authorities to release details of the agreement, safety measures, and official risk assessments connected to the Ebola project.
Speaking to CNN, Kenyan-based correspondent Larry Madowo said many Kenyans feared the plan could effectively import Ebola into the country.
“Most Kenyans do not want Americans exposed to Ebola coming here,” Madowo said.
“They want the Kenyan government to reject the US request and turn down any money the Americans are offering.”
He added that the United States viewed Kenya as geographically close enough to Congo to quickly isolate infected Americans without the risks linked to transporting patients directly back to the US.
But the proposal has sparked emotional reactions across Kenyan social media and public discussions.
“Why do Americans think that their lives are so much more important than the lives of Kenyans?” one Kenyan citizen said while reacting to the controversy.
Another critic questioned why the proposed facility would reportedly prioritize Americans despite being built on Kenyan soil.
“Why would you create a facility in my country and it doesn’t serve me, yet it hosts people who are endangering my own life?” the citizen asked.
Kenya’s government has not yet issued a detailed response to the court decision or the growing public criticism.
However, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale previously confirmed that discussions between Kenya and the United States regarding Ebola cooperation were ongoing.
“Kenya is ready, Kenya is capable,” Duale said in an earlier statement defending the country’s preparedness to deal with infectious disease outbreaks.
The court decision now places the future of the quarantine project in uncertainty as pressure grows on the Kenyan government to publicly explain the arrangement and reassure citizens over national safety concerns.
The controversy comes at a time when Ebola fears are already rising across East Africa following new outbreaks in DR Congo and Uganda, with several neighboring countries now considered high-risk zones by regional health authorities.
