Nairobi, Kenya (Running Africa) — Kenya’s Health Minister Aden Duale has ordered the immediate suspension of construction work on a controversial US-funded Ebola quarantine facility after being found in contempt of court by the High Court.
Duale appeared before High Court Judge Patricia Nyaundi on Tuesday, where he apologized to the court and confirmed that all construction activities at the site had been halted. The facility was being built at Laikipia Air Base near Nanyuki, approximately 140 kilometers north of Nairobi.
The court accepted the minister’s apology and released him with a warning after determining that prior orders to stop construction had not been fully complied with.
The proposed 50-bed isolation center was part of a US-supported public health initiative backed by a $13.5 million contribution. The facility was intended to accommodate American citizens exposed to Ebola outbreaks in neighboring countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
The project has generated significant controversy in Kenya, particularly because the country has not reported any Ebola cases. Legal challenges were brought by the Katiba Institute and the Law Society of Kenya, which questioned the project’s transparency and raised concerns about potential public health and safety implications.
The High Court issued orders in May and June directing that construction be suspended while the matter was under review. The court later ruled that those directives had been disregarded, leading to the contempt proceedings.
Public opposition to the facility has also intensified in Nanyuki, where demonstrations against the project have been held in recent weeks. Local media reports indicate that three people died during clashes between protesters and police, underscoring the growing tensions surrounding the proposed quarantine center.
The suspension of construction marks the latest development in a dispute that has sparked debate over public health preparedness, government transparency, foreign-funded health projects, and community consultation in Kenya.
With legal proceedings ongoing, the future of the Ebola quarantine facility remains uncertain as authorities weigh public health considerations against concerns raised by residents, civil society groups, and the courts.
