Tensions in Kenya over a US-backed Ebola quarantine center

The construction of a quarantine center intended to house potential Ebola patients is causing a major controversy in Kenya. Despite a court order halting the project and sometimes violent protests, specialized American equipment and personnel continue to arrive at a military base in Nanyuki, in the center of the country.

According to Reuters, approximately 20 flights transported medical equipment and experts to the site where the United States is building a 50-bed unit to treat American citizens who may have been exposed to the virus. This initiative comes as cases of Ebola have been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

The project has sparked strong local opposition. Protests have erupted in Nanyuki, resulting in at least two deaths. Opponents denounce the plan, arguing that it would turn Kenya into a treatment center for foreign patients, and accuse the United States of shifting the risks associated with managing the disease onto Kenyan soil.

The controversy has also taken on a political dimension. Kenyan President William Ruto is being criticized by some members of the public, who believe his government did not sufficiently consult the population before approving the project.

A Kenyan court ordered a halt to construction on May 28, but according to aerial tracking data and several officials cited by Reuters, US military flights to Nanyuki Air Base continued after the ruling. This situation is fueling questions about compliance with court orders and about relations between Nairobi and Washington.

According to a US diplomatic cable seen by Reuters, the US embassy in Kenya also warned of rising popular opposition to the project. US authorities, for their part, maintain that the facility aims to strengthen response capabilities in the event of a regional Ebola outbreak.

The case highlights the difficulties governments face when trying to reconcile international health imperatives, national sovereignty, and acceptance by local populations.