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Kenya has ordered an immediate suspension of preparations for a US-linked Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base following a court dispute and growing public opposition over the project’s handling and safety concerns.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale told a court on Tuesday that he had directed “the immediate and complete cessation of any intended construction, site preparation, or related activities” at the site, pending the determination of an ongoing petition or further court orders.
The development comes after the High Court found Duale in contempt for failing to comply with an earlier stop-work order and for failing to respond adequately to judicial directives. He was summoned for sentencing on Monday, then appeared in court the following day, where he apologised and confirmed compliance with the ruling.
The facility, located at Laikipia Air Base about 200 kilometres from Nairobi, was designed to include roughly 50 isolation beds and was expected to be operated by US medical personnel. It had been intended for potential US citizens evacuated from the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is currently managing a major Ebola outbreak.
However, the project has triggered strong public resistance and legal challenges. Rights organisations argued that the facility was developed without adequate consultation and described the process as lacking transparency.
Tensions escalated further after violent protests near Laikipia linked to the project left at least three people dead, intensifying scrutiny of the government’s decision-making.
Opposition has also been fuelled by concerns over Kenya’s lack of prior Ebola cases and fears that hosting potential carriers of the highly infectious virus could expose local communities to unnecessary risk. Critics have additionally questioned the arrangement’s framing, despite the United States pledging $13.5 million to support Kenya’s broader Ebola preparedness programme.
The court is expected to continue hearing the substantive petition in the coming weeks.
