Kenya Health Minister Halts US-Funded Ebola Quarantine Centre Construction

Kenya's Health Minister Aden Duale halted construction of a US-funded Ebola quarantine centre after a contempt of court ruling. The project sparked protests and fatalities amid legal and public health concerns.

Health Minister Aden Duale Apologises to Court

Kenya's Health Minister Aden Duale has ordered the immediate halt of construction on a US-funded Ebola quarantine facility, following a contempt of court ruling against him for disregarding a judicial order. The facility is located at a military base in Nanyuki, approximately 140km north of Nairobi.

During a court appearance on Tuesday, Duale apologised and stated that he had

"directed the immediate and complete cessation"

of all building activities at the site.

Last month, the High Court had ruled that construction of the 50-bed isolation centre should be suspended pending the hearing of a case filed by a rights group. Despite this, the project continued, leading to a judge's ruling on Monday that Duale had ignored the court's order.

The quarantine centre is intended to isolate US citizens suspected of contracting Ebola amid the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In court, Duale expressed regret, saying

"I sincerely regret any action or omission, misunderstanding or misinterpretation that may have resulted in non-compliance of the order of this court or created the perception thereof."

High Court Judge Patricia Nyaundi accepted the apology and discharged the minister with a stern warning.

A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic Africa

Satellite Imagery Shows Continued Construction

BBC Verify's analysis of satellite images from Planet Labs dated 20 June reveals that additional tents have been erected since 8 June, and more surfaces appear to be covered with tarmac or crushed stone. A dirt road surrounding the site seems to have been paved, and vegetation has been cleared along the western and southern boundaries. At least eight white objects, possibly small tents or vehicles, are visible on the site.

Protests and Fatalities in Nanyuki

The plan to build the quarantine centre has triggered widespread protests in Nanyuki. During these demonstrations, police efforts to disperse crowds resulted in the deaths of three individuals.

Among the deceased was 17-year-old schoolboy Sylvester Muigai Ndung'u, who aspired to become a priest. Witnesses reported he was shot in the head, though police have stated they are awaiting post-mortem results to confirm the cause of death.

A photograph of Sylvester Muigai Ndung'u in a school uniform. He is in a grey jacket, white shirt and red tie. — Image caption, Teenager Sylvester Muigai Ndung'u was one of three people killed in angry protests against the Ebola centre - police have not answered claims they used excessive force on civilians

Legal Challenges and Public Health Concerns

The Katiba Institute, a rights group, filed a petition in May to halt the construction, citing

"grave and imminent risks"

to public health posed by the facility.

However, Minister Duale dismissed these concerns in court, asserting that his decisions are

"based on science, technical advice and strategic interventions."

He added,

"The fear that the... facility could serve as a vehicle for Ebola importation into surrounding communities is scientifically unfounded. The facility is located at a military airbase placing it at a significant geographical distance from populated areas with very strict access protocols."

The health ministry previously maintained that it had not violated the court's order, arguing that any ongoing construction was solely a Kenyan government initiative aimed at protecting citizens from Ebola.

Nevertheless, the judge clarified that the government could not circumvent the order by recharacterising the construction activities, stating that a court order

"is not an invitation to ingenuity - it is a command to be obeyed."

The judge further emphasized that Duale was aware that all construction must cease, yet permitted it to continue.

Government and Public Responses

Kenya's President William Ruto has publicly supported the establishment of the US-funded quarantine centre, noting that he received a request from the US and that refusal would be

"inhuman."

He urged Kenyans not to politicize the Ebola issue and called on politicians to avoid

"reckless"

statements.

As of Monday, Kenya, East Africa's largest economy, had not reported any Ebola cases. The outbreak has primarily affected the Democratic Republic of Congo, with over 1,000 confirmed cases, and Uganda, which has recorded 20 confirmed cases, mostly imported from the DRC.

The US plan has faced opposition from the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), which questioned why Kenya was selected to host a quarantine facility for exposed American citizens. The union's secretary general, Davji Bhimji Atellah, stated the union

"will not sit back and watch Kenya be treated as a containment colony for a lethal pathogen that we did not generate."

Geographically, the Congolese city of Bunia, the epicentre of the outbreak, is 780km from Nanyuki, with Uganda situated between the DRC and Kenya.

US Funding and Regional Response

A spokesperson for US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that Washington plans to provide $13.5 million (£10.7 million) in aid to support Kenya's Ebola preparedness efforts. This funding is part of a broader $112 million US commitment to the regional response to the outbreak.