Africa-Press – Kenya. A Kenyan court has issued a decision to suspend the proposed establishment of an American quarantine center for Ebola patients for another three weeks, following protests that resulted in the deaths of two individuals. The government has been ordered to disclose the details of its agreement with Washington.
The plan to create a unit with 50 beds at a military base in central Kenya, designated for Americans who have been exposed to the virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo or Uganda, has sparked widespread anger among Kenyans, who accuse the United States of shirking its health responsibilities towards patients.
A Kenyan court had temporarily suspended the project last week in response to a lawsuit filed by a legal rights advocacy group. However, U.S. military aircraft continued to transport personnel and equipment in recent days, according to an American official and diplomatic sources.
The Kenyan High Court judge, Patricia Nyaundi, issued an order preventing the Kenyan government from taking any steps to build or operate the facility in Nanyuki until the case is resolved.
The judge also ordered the government to disclose all agreements and operational protocols related to the facility within seven days and set the next hearing for June 23.
An American health official, Mohammed Oz, stated to reporters during a press briefing at the White House that the Trump administration is confident in the State Department’s ability to work with Kenya to establish the facility. Oz said, “I believe we will reach a very satisfactory agreement with Kenya. They will do the right thing for everyone, and I think it is an ideal solution.”
Hundreds protested against the plan in Nanyuki. Protest organizer Patrick Wahome reported that two individuals were killed by gunfire after police opened fire.
A security source confirmed the deaths but did not specify the cause. Police spokesperson Michael Muchiri stated he was not aware of the fatalities.
Kenyan President William Ruto stated that the facility is part of a broader national preparedness plan and a long-term health partnership with Washington.
The United States announced last week that it would provide $13.5 million to support Kenya’s efforts to prepare for Ebola. Ruto said the site would serve both Kenyans and foreigners. He remarked, “We are a responsible government, and we know what we are doing.”
An anonymous American official told Reuters that the facility would be limited to treating American citizens. The official added, “There will be American officials, doctors, and specialists present at this facility to treat American citizens. Our top priority is to contain the spread of Ebola and provide the highest level of medical care to Americans.”
Kenyan courts are known for their independence, especially by regional standards, although activists often accuse the government of ignoring or circumventing orders. The outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola is concentrated in eastern Congo, with several cases extending to neighboring Uganda.
The World Health Organization has reported 321 confirmed cases and 116 suspected cases of Ebola in Congo, including 48 deaths. Uganda has confirmed 15 cases.
The Trump administration has stated that it “cannot and will not allow” any cases to enter the United States, unlike during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa between 2014 and 2016, when several infected American citizens received treatment on U.S. soil.
An American citizen infected with Ebola while working as a medical volunteer in the Democratic Republic of Congo was transferred to Germany last month for treatment, along with five others who were exposed to the virus. A seventh individual was sent to the Czech Republic.
The facility in Nanyuki aims to receive Americans who have been exposed to the virus but remain asymptomatic. American officials have stated that symptomatic patients will be sent for treatment in other countries.
