A Kenyan court has suspended plans by the United States to establish an Ebola quarantine facility for American citizens in the country, following growing public concern over potential cross-border health risks.
The proposed 50-bed isolation centre, which was expected to be staffed by US medical personnel, was scheduled to begin operations on Friday, according to US officials. However, the Kenyan government has yet to issue a formal public statement on the arrangement.
Rights group the Katiba Institute filed a legal challenge, arguing that the project posed “grave and imminent risks” to public health, prompting the High Court to temporarily block any related operations.
In its ruling, the court barred any foreign government from establishing or operating Ebola-related quarantine or treatment facilities in Kenya until the case is fully heard.
The exact location of the proposed centre had not been officially confirmed, although reports suggested it could be situated in Laikipia county, sparking objections from local lawmakers and officials.
Public concern has also been heightened by fears that individuals exposed to Ebola in other African countries could be transferred to Kenya for treatment or observation.
Doctors’ unions and medical professionals have criticised the plan, questioning Kenya’s role in hosting such a facility despite not being directly affected by the outbreak.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) warned that the country should not be treated as a “containment zone”, and demanded full disclosure of any agreements tied to the project.
Kenya currently has no reported Ebola cases, while the ongoing outbreak in the region has been linked to hundreds of infections and deaths across parts of central and eastern Africa.
Authorities, however, maintain that international cooperation remains essential in addressing public health threats that cross national borders.
