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Kenya has ordered a halt to preparations for a US-run Ebola quarantine facility, the health minister told a court Tuesday, after being held in contempt for ignoring a previous stop-work order. The project has prompted widespread anger, and several people were killed during protests earlier this month.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from both AllAfrica and RFI — English describe the facility as "controversial" and emphasize the widespread anger and deadly protests it has provoked. Both outlets highlight the court's contempt finding against Health Minister Aden Duale and his subsequent apology and directive to cease all work at the site.

Key Claims

  • Halt Ordered: Health Minister Aden Duale told the court on Tuesday, "I have directed the immediate and complete cessation of any intended construction, site preparation, or related activities concerning the Laikipia Air Base facility pending the hearing and determination of the substantive petition or until further orders of this court." This statement was reported by both sources.
  • Facility Location and Scope: The center is located at Laikipia Air Base, near the town of Nanyuki, approximately 200 kilometers from Nairobi. It is largely completed and includes 50 isolation beds to be manned by US medical staff, as stated in both reports.
  • Legal Challenge: The Katiba Institute rights group petitioned the high court in May, alleging the facility was being developed secretly and without consultation, and warned of "grave and imminent risks" to public health. Both sources report this.
  • US Funding and Ebola Context: The US has pledged $13.5 million to support Kenya's Ebola preparedness efforts, according to the reports. The Ebola outbreak began on 15 May in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with over 1,000 confirmed cases, and has since spread to neighboring Uganda, which has reported 20 confirmed cases.
  • Protests and Casualties: The project has led to protests, with three people killed in two separate days of unrest in Laikipia, as noted by both sources. The scale of the unrest reportedly surprised both the Kenyan and US governments.

Perspectives

Minister Duale defended the plan, arguing that fears of Ebola spreading outside the military base were "scientifically unfounded" and noting the facility could have also served Kenyan soldiers deployed in the DRC. In contrast, the Katiba Institute and many local residents view the facility as a threat to public health and a symbol of colonial-era decision-making, given its secretive development and lack of local consultation.

Both reports note that the Kenyan government had previously ignored a court order to pause work, leading to the contempt ruling against Minister Duale. He expressed regret in court and was pardoned.