A Kenyan court on Tuesday blocked the construction and planned operation of a U.S.-backed Ebola quarantine facility for an additional 3 weeks, escalating a legal and political dispute that has sparked deadly protests and public anger.
The proposed 50-bed unit, intended for U.S. citizens exposed to Ebola in Democratic Republic of Congo or Uganda, is planned for a Kenyan air force base in the central town of Nanyuki. It has faced strong opposition from local residents who accuse the U.S. of shifting health risks onto Kenya.
Kenyan High Court Judge Patricia Nyaundi ordered that no work or operational preparations proceed until the case is resolved. She also instructed the government to disclose all agreements and operational protocols related to the facility within seven days, with the next hearing set for 23 June.
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Nanyuki on Monday. Organisers said two people were killed when police opened fire during the demonstrations, though authorities have not confirmed the deaths.
The ruling follows an earlier temporary suspension issued last week after a lawsuit was filed by a legal advocacy group challenging the agreement between Nairobi and Washington.
The case has raised broader concerns in Kenya over transparency and sovereignty, with critics demanding clarity on the terms of the arrangement.
U.S. health official Mehmet Oz said the Trump administration remained confident in working with Kenya to finalise the arrangement.
“I think we're going to work out ... a very favourable arrangement with Kenya,” he said, adding that the goal was to ensure “the highest clinical care for Americans” and prevent any spread of Ebola.
A U.S. official said the facility would exclusively treat American citizens and would be staffed by U.S. medical personnel.
Kenyan President William Ruto defended the agreement, describing it as part of a wider preparedness plan and long-standing health cooperation with the United States.
The U.S. has pledged $13.5 million for Kenya’s Ebola preparedness efforts. However, officials have confirmed that patients who develop symptoms would be transferred elsewhere for treatment.
The dispute comes amid a worsening Ebola outbreak in the region. The World Health Organization reported 321 confirmed cases and 116 suspected cases in Democratic Republic of Congo, with 48 deaths, while Uganda has confirmed 15 cases.
The facility remains suspended pending further court proceedings, with the next hearing scheduled for later this month.
Apple is facing a £3 billion lawsuit in the United Kingdom after a competition tribunal approved a major collective action over its iCloud storage se...
U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran had agreed to nuclear inspections into "infinity, despite Tehran's denials, and that unfrozen Iranian asset...
Iran has strengthened ties with regional partners and agreed a roadmap for technical talks with the U.S. aimed at securing a final peace agreement wit...
Belgium has issued 24-hour visas to a Taliban delegation attending European Union migration talks in Brussels, as EU member states explore ways to ret...
The Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded more than 1,000 confirmed Ebola cases for the first time in the current outbreak, with infections rising...
Apple is facing a £3 billion lawsuit in the United Kingdom after a competition tribunal approved a major collective action over its iCloud storage service.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran had agreed to nuclear inspections into "infinity, despite Tehran's denials, and that unfrozen Iranian assets would be used to buy humanitarian supplies from the United States.
Iran has strengthened ties with regional partners and agreed a roadmap for technical talks with the U.S. aimed at securing a final peace agreement within two months.
Belgium has issued 24-hour visas to a Taliban delegation attending European Union migration talks in Brussels, as EU member states explore ways to return some Afghans convicted of serious crimes or considered security threats.
At least thirteen people have died and sixty-six have been injured following an explosion at Qatar's main liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing hub at Ras Laffan, authorities said on Sunday.
Cape Verde’s remarkable FIFA World Cup debut continued on Sunday (21 June) as the tournament newcomers held Uruguay to a 2-2 draw. Goalkeeper Vozinha was once again at the centre of the story, this time with his mother watching from the stands.
Tehran has agreed to let the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recommence inspections of its nuclear programme, U.S. Vice President JD Vance has said. The U.S. and Iran have settled on a 60-day roadmap aimed at reaching a final deal, according to mediators Qatar and Pakistan.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed on a landmark internet deal that will allow traffic to pass through Azerbaijani networks.It's the latest deal to highlight the ongoing peace process between the two countries.
A Ukrainian strike has damaged a school building in a Russian-controlled area of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, according to local authorities cited by the TASS news agency. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Apple is facing a £3 billion lawsuit in the United Kingdom after a competition tribunal approved a major collective action over its iCloud storage service.
Amnesty International has accused the European Union of being complicit in human rights abuses after authorities in eastern and western Libya intensified a crackdown on migrants and refugees through mass arrests, detentions and expulsions.
Belgium has issued 24-hour visas to a Taliban delegation attending European Union migration talks in Brussels, as EU member states explore ways to return some Afghans convicted of serious crimes or considered security threats.
Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of Scotland's governing Scottish National Party (SNP), has been jailed for five years and three months after admitting to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party over a 13-year period
Germany is preparing for one of the most significant reforms of its pension system in decades, as Chancellor Friedrich Merz backs proposals aimed at safeguarding retirement incomes in the face of rapid demographic change.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment