Residents of Nanyuki, a town in central Kenya where the U.S. government wants to establish an Ebola quarantine facility for its citizens, have strongly criticized the plan, arguing it would put them at risk of exposure to the virus and reflects a double standard by the United States.
“People should be quarantined in their own country. We should not let foreigners bring disease here,” said Charles Mathenge, a taxi driver living near Laikipia Air Base, the proposed site in Nanyuki, about 120 miles from the capital Nairobi. “Kenya is our country, and we must be careful with it.”
Last week, Nairobi’s High Court temporarily blocked the establishment of the facility and the admission of people exposed to Ebola into Kenya, after the non-profit Katiba Institute filed a petition. The group argued that the agreement between the Kenyan and U.S. governments over the facility raised concerns about public health, governance, and sovereignty.
The U.S. plans to send 30 medical workers to operate the facility in Nanyuki, which, if completed, would have 50 beds. During previous Ebola outbreaks, the U.S. repatriated infected citizens for treatment. However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on May 28 that the country could not allow any Ebola cases onto its territory.
Kenya’s Health Minister, Dr. Davji Atellah of the Kenya Union of Physicians, Pharmacists, and Dentists, said the group would not “sit by while Kenya is treated as a quarantine colony.” “If it’s too dangerous for America, it’s too dangerous for Kenya,” he said.
President William Ruto defended the plan, saying it was being politicized and was part of a national medical preparedness system. “These measures are solely intended to protect public health and strengthen capacity to respond to medical emergencies,” he stated.
Judge Patricia Nyaundi, however, ordered the Kenyan government not to proceed with the plan before the case is resolved. The next hearing is scheduled for June 23.
The Ebola outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which no vaccine or treatment has been approved. The World Health Organization has declared a global medical emergency. As of Tuesday, there were 41 deaths and 321 infections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and one death and nine infections in Uganda. Kenya has recorded no infections.
A protest near the air base on Monday left two people dead from police gunfire, according to organizers. Police said they were unaware of any deaths.
In Nanyuki, an agricultural hub of more than 70,000 people, discussions about the plan ripple through shops, markets, and homes. Simon Ng’ono, a motorcycle taxi driver, questioned why the U.S., with its advanced medical infrastructure, wanted to bring Ebola-exposed people to the town. “President Ruto should cancel this plan entirely and close the borders to patients from other countries,” he added.
Purity Kendi, a businesswoman who lives and works near the base, said she feels betrayed by the Kenyan government. “We expect leaders to protect us, but they show they don’t care about us,” she said. “We have no other country to run to.”
