The United States has said it has alternative countries willing to host an Ebola treatment and quarantine facility for American citizens if Kenya ultimately blocks a proposed center at Laikipia Air Base.
The remarks were made by Dr. Mehmet Oz, health adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, days after Kenya‘s High Court temporarily halted plans linked to the proposed Ebola facility following legal challenges and public opposition.
Speaking at the White House, Dr. Oz defended the idea of locating a treatment center close to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where a new Ebola outbreak has raised concern across the region.
“However, the main issue with having a facility close to the Democratic Republic of the Congo is, if a patient is sick, again, I speak as a heart doctor, I want to take the patient to the OR that’s right next door to the room they’re sick, and not to the building next to them, or to three buildings two blocks away,” he said.
Dr. Oz said Washington remains optimistic that discussions with Nairobi will produce an agreement despite the court challenge.
“We are confident the State Department’s working on this diligently, that they’re going to be able to work out something with Kenya. There has already been a fair amount of communication around this issue,” he said.
At the same time, he revealed that the United States has other options if Kenya is unable or unwilling to host the project.
“We have the UK base there, we have other people who might be willing to welcome us, and we have our German colleagues as well, so there’s many places we can send folks,” he said.
He argued that transporting potentially infected patients across continents would create additional risks.
“Sending them across the world, especially when we’re not sure what’s going on with them, is probably not the wisest move,” he added.
The proposed facility has become one of the most debated health and security issues in Kenya in recent weeks. Supporters say the center would strengthen regional preparedness against Ebola, while critics fear it could expose Kenya to additional risks.
The controversy has already sparked demonstrations in parts of Kenya, with local media reporting that at least two people died during protests linked to opposition against the plan.
The legal challenge has also drawn support from professional bodies and civil society groups demanding greater transparency about the agreement between Nairobi and Washington. Critics have questioned why the facility would primarily serve American citizens and have called on the government to disclose the full details of the arrangement.
Last week, Kenya’s High Court temporarily suspended any implementation of the Ebola facility project pending further hearings.
Kenya’s government has yet to issue a detailed response to the latest remarks from Washington, although Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale previously confirmed that discussions with the United States regarding Ebola preparedness were ongoing.
The case is expected to return to court as judges consider whether the proposed arrangement complies with Kenyan law and public health requirements.
