Two people were killed in central Kenya on Monday after angry protests erupted over plans to establish a U.S.-backed Ebola quarantine facility at a military air base, sparking fears the country could become a holding zone for Americans exposed to the deadly virus.
The violence broke out in Nanyuki, near Laikipia Air Base, where residents and local leaders took to the streets to oppose the controversial project. Protesters say they fear the facility could put local communities at risk and question why Kenya should host a quarantine center for U.S. citizens.
The deaths were confirmed by organizer Patrick Wahome and a security source.
The argument exploded after Kenya’s government approved a request from the Trump administration to create a quarantine facility for Americans potentially exposed to Ebola during the growing outbreak in Central Africa.
President William Ruto hit back at critics Monday night, insisting the facility is part of a broader national emergency preparedness strategy and not some special arrangement for the United States.
“We are a responsible government. We know what we are doing,” Ruto declared, urging Kenyans not to panic.
The president revealed he approved the plan after a request from President Donald Trump, citing decades of cooperation between Kenya and the United States on major health crises, including HIV/AIDS, COVID-19 and Ebola.
Ruto argued the facility would not be unique and claimed similar health preparedness centers already exist across Kenya. He said the site could also be used by Kenyans if Ebola cases emerge.
But the reassurance has done little to calm public outrage.
The Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda are currently battling a deadly outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which has already killed 48 people and prompted the World Health Organization to declare an international public health emergency.
The controversy has also moved into the courts. Last week, a Kenyan judge temporarily suspended the project after campaigners filed a lawsuit arguing the facility could endanger public health. Ruto notably made no mention of the court order while defending the plan.
Adding to local suspicions, flight-tracking data showed a U.S. military C-130 transport aircraft landed in Nanyuki as recently as Friday. Residents also reported seeing military aircraft heading toward the base over the weekend.
Despite mounting tensions, Kenyan authorities insist no Ebola cases have been detected inside the country. Officials say border screening has been intensified, with around 3,000 people checked every day at airports and land crossings.
Still, for many residents, the promise of preparedness has been overshadowed by fears that Kenya is being asked to shoulder America’s Ebola problem — and the deadly protests show just how explosive the issue has become.
