Deadly protests in Kenya over US-backed Ebola quarantine facility

WorldPolitics
2 Jun 2026 • 4:52 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Deadly protests in Kenya over US-backed Ebola quarantine facility

  • Violent protests erupted in Nanyuki, central Kenya, resulting in two deaths, over plans for a US-backed Ebola quarantine facility at a military air base.
  • Residents and local leaders oppose the project, fearing it could endanger local communities and questioning why Kenya should host a quarantine centre for US citizens.
  • The controversy escalated after Kenya's government approved a request from the Trump administration to establish the facility for Americans potentially exposed to Ebola.
  • President William Ruto defended the plan, stating it is part of a national emergency preparedness strategy and not solely for the United States, despite public outrage.
  • A Kenyan judge temporarily suspended the project last week following a lawsuit, while flight-tracking data showed a US military C-130 aircraft landing in Nanyuki recently, adding to local suspicions.

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