Kenya has approved a plan by the United States to establish an Ebola quarantine facility in Laikipia County as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s preparedness against the deadly virus.
The move follows growing concern over the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, which has raised fears of further spread across the region.
The development was discussed during a phone call between President William Ruto and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday, May 28.
According to a statement released by the Office of the U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott, the two leaders discussed cooperation between Kenya and the United States in improving health preparedness and securing important medical supplies.
During the talks, Rubio announced that the U.S. government would provide approximately Ksh1.74 billion to support Kenya’s Ebola preparedness efforts. The funds are expected to help strengthen emergency response systems and improve the country’s ability to manage possible Ebola cases.
Sources familiar with the discussions said Kenya has already issued written approval allowing the United States to use land at an air force base in Laikipia for the project. The quarantine facility is expected to become operational within a week.
Reports indicate that the centre will initially include a 50-bed field hospital, although there are plans to expand the facility to accommodate up to 250 beds if needed. The facility is also expected to be staffed by members of the U.S. Public Health Service, with some personnel already undergoing training in Maryland before deployment to Kenya.
A U.S. government official reportedly stated that the centre would help provide quick access to quality medical care for Americans leaving the Democratic Republic of Congo without requiring long transport back to the United States.
The project is said to be coordinated jointly by the U.S. Departments of State, Defence, and Health and Human Services.
The Ministry of Health confirmed earlier this week that Kenya had been holding discussions with the U.S. and other global partners on cooperation in the Ebola response. Sources also revealed that Kenya had proposed the facility should serve all nationalities and not only Americans, although it remains unclear whether that request was accepted.
However, the plan has already attracted criticism and legal opposition from lobby groups and civil society organisations.
On Thursday, Katiba Institute, the Law Society of Kenya, and other groups filed a petition in court seeking to stop the establishment of any Ebola quarantine or treatment facility linked to foreign governments in Kenya.
The petitioners are demanding full public disclosure of all agreements, environmental assessments, biosafety approvals, and emergency preparedness plans connected to the proposed facility.
