Deadly Protests Erupt in Kenya Over US Ebola Quarantine Centre at Military Base

Deadly Protests Erupt in Kenya Over US Ebola Quarantine Centre at Military Base

A demonstrator was reportedly shot dead on Tuesday in Nanyuki, Kenya, as police fired tear gas and live rounds at protesters rallying against a US plan to build an Ebola quarantine centre at a nearby military base — the latest in a series of deadly clashes over the controversial facility.

What’s Happening on the Ground

Protesters took to the streets of Nanyuki — roughly 200km north of Nairobi — waving Kenyan flags, carrying placards, and bearing a coffin marked “Ebola.” They are demanding the US government scrap its plan to construct a 50-bed isolation centre at a local military base.

AFP journalists on the scene heard gunshots and witnessed a man lying motionless after being shot in the head. Reuters reporters confirmed seeing a man’s body in the back of a police vehicle. Police have not yet issued a statement.

This is not an isolated incident. Two people were killed the previous week when police dispersed similar demonstrations in the area.

Why Kenyans Are Angry

The planned facility is intended to treat American citizens affected by the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) — not Kenyan patients. The DRC has recorded approximately 600 confirmed Ebola cases and 100 deaths, with the epicentre in the city of Bunia, some 780km from Nanyuki.

Kenya has recorded zero Ebola cases to date, which makes many locals question why the country should bear the risk. Protester Priscilla Imani told Reuters: “My message is this, Laikipia is not a dumping site and our voices must be heard.”

Public anger centres on two key concerns: the risk of cross-border infection and a lack of government transparency around the project.

Legal Battle and Ignored Court Orders

Last month, Kenya’s High Court ordered construction to be halted after a rights group filed a case arguing the facility posed “grave and imminent risks” to public health.

Despite the ruling, satellite imagery reviewed by multiple outlets shows construction has continued at the airbase. A US official acknowledged awareness of the court case but expressed confidence the “objections can be resolved.”

Government Defends the Plan

Kenyan President William Ruto defended the decision, saying he had received a formal request from the US and that refusing it would be “inhuman.” He urged Kenyans not to politicise what he called a “serious” health matter.

A US official explained Kenya was chosen for the facility due to its proximity to the outbreak zone and the limited capacity of regional airports, adding that the site would allow Americans to “be treated in a timely manner.”

What This Means for the Region

The crisis highlights a growing tension between US health diplomacy and the sovereignty and safety concerns of African host nations. For young Kenyans in Laikipia county, the stakes are deeply personal — residents say fear of Ebola has already driven visitors away and damaged the local economy.

With protests intensifying and a court order apparently being ignored, the situation in Nanyuki shows no signs of cooling down.