Kenya residents protest U.S. Ebola quarantine facility plan

Kenya residents protest U.S. Ebola quarantine facility plan
Health workers get dressed in personal protective equipment (PPE) at the Evangelical Medical Center, Democratic Republic of Congo, 31 May 2026
Reuters

Protesters in Nanyuki blocked roads and burned tyres after residents challenged a U.S. plan to house Americans exposed to Ebola at a nearby military base.

Residents block roads

Hundreds of people took to the streets of Nanyuki in central Kenya on Monday (1 June), protesting a U.S. plan to set up an Ebola quarantine facility at a nearby military base.

The demonstrations brought sections of the town to a standstill as protesters blocked roads, marched through the streets and burned tyres. Security forces were deployed to control the situation, while Red Cross personnel assisted an injured protester during the unrest.

Residents said the planned facility would accommodate Americans exposed to the virus. Anger was also directed at elected officials, with one resident saying that no elected officials had appeared at the protest and voicing fears about the dangers Ebola could bring.

Court order fuels tensions

The unrest began days after Kenya's High Court ordered a temporary halt to the plan following a legal challenge. The challenge warned that placing the facility at the base could pose a public health risk.

Kenya's government has defended the plan, saying the facility would help strengthen the country's emergency response systems. Many residents remained suspicious, citing increased military activity at the base as a sign that preparations were continuing despite the court order.

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The protest underlined local concern over how the quarantine plan is being handled, even as authorities argue it would improve emergency readiness.

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