Ruto Defends US-Backed Ebola Quarantine Plan Amid Protests and Court Suspension

Kenyan President William Ruto defended plans for a US-backed Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base, saying it is part of Kenya’s health preparedness efforts. The plan has sparked protests and a court-ordered temporary suspension, with residents fearing possible Ebola exposure. Ruto said Kenya is screening about 3,000 people daily and has recorded no Ebola cases.

Kenyan President William Ruto has defended plans to establish a US-backed Ebola quarantine facility at a military air base in central Kenya, describing the project as part of the country’s broader preparedness strategy and a continuation of its long-standing health partnership with the United States.

Last week, Kenya approved a request from the United States to set up a quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base for Americans who may have been exposed to Ebola. The decision sparked public concern and protests from residents and leaders in Nanyuki, the town located near the military base.
Speaking publicly for the first time about the project, Ruto said he agreed to the arrangement after a request from US President Donald Trump. He explained that Kenya and the United States have worked together for decades on major health programmes involving diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Ebola and COVID-19.
Ruto dismissed concerns surrounding the facility, insisting it was not different from other health facilities already operating in Kenya.
“The facility that is at Laikipia Air Base is not a facility different from all the other facilities that we have across Kenya,” the president told reporters in northern Kenya on Monday night. He urged Kenyans to trust the government’s preparedness and public health systems.
The announcement comes as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda continue to battle an outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. The outbreak has killed at least 48 people and has been declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Health experts say the outbreak has been spreading faster than the global response efforts, raising fears across East Africa about the possibility of cross-border transmission.
On Monday, residents and local leaders in Nanyuki staged protests against the planned quarantine facility. Demonstrators expressed fears that hosting people potentially exposed to Ebola could put nearby communities at risk.
Some protesters questioned why Kenya should establish a quarantine centre specifically for American citizens, while others argued that the government had failed to adequately consult residents before approving the plan.
The protests followed mounting criticism online and legal action aimed at stopping the project.
Ruto defended the government’s decision, saying Kenya had a responsibility to prepare for any possible Ebola outbreak, including cases involving Kenyans working or serving in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The president said the country had already strengthened its health preparedness systems by setting up isolation, surveillance and treatment centres in 23 counties. According to him, the Laikipia facility would not only support foreign partners such as Americans, but would also be available for Kenyans if necessary.
Meanwhile, a Kenyan court temporarily suspended the implementation of the project last week after a lawsuit claimed the facility could pose a danger to public health. Ruto did not directly address the court order during his remarks.
Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 reported that a US military C-130 transport aircraft landed in Nanyuki as recently as Friday afternoon. Two local residents also said they observed military aircraft flying toward the air base over the weekend, although Reuters could not independently confirm whether the aircraft belonged to the United States military.
As fears over Ebola continue to grow in the region, Kenya has intensified screening measures at land crossings and airports. Ruto said approximately 3,000 people are currently being screened every day and stressed that no Ebola cases have so far been detected in Kenya.
“We are a responsible government. We know what we are doing,” the president said.