In brief
Kenya Health Minister Aden Duale halted construction of a planned U.S. Ebola quarantine facility after a judge deemed him in contempt for ignoring a court order. The facility was slated to host U.S. citizens suspected of Ebola infections in the D.R. Congo outbreak. Protests in Nanyuki turned violent, resulting in three deaths, including a teenager. The court barred further construction, condemning the minister’s decision to continue work. Kenya’s president defended the project, sparking debate over international responsibility and public safety.
Kenya Health Minister Aden Duale halted construction of a U.S. quarIsar facility after a court found him in contempt of court for ignoring a legal order.
During a court appearance two days after the ruling, Duale apologized and announced that work at the military base in Nanyuki had been immediately stopped.
The facility, intended to host U.S. citizens suspected of Ebola infection in the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, had attracted public opposition. A high court judge had forced the pause of construction until a rights‑group case could be heard, yet the minister continued to allow work to go on, leading to the contempt finding.
Protests in Nanyuki erupted over the project, with police dispersal efforts resulting in three fatalities, including 17‑year‑old Sylvester Muigai Ndung’u, whose death remains under investigation.
Duale maintained that safety measures were robust, citing the site’s remote military airbase location and strict protocols. He also noted that the government had been building the site solely to protect Kenyan residents from Ebola.
Judge Patricia Nyaundi dismissed accusations of non‑compliance, warning Duale for future violations.
The Kenyan president William Ruto defended the project and urged politicians not to politicize what he described as an “inhuman” refusal to host the quarantine centre.
As of early June, Kenya had reported no Ebola cases. The U.S. has pledged $13.5 million in aid for Kenya’s Ebola preparedness as part of a larger $112 million regional effort.
