Kenyan Police Deploy Tear Gas as Protesters Block US Ebola Quarantine Centre

Wed Jun 17 2026 08:13:02 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Police in Kenya fired tear gas on protestors in Nanyuki who oppose the U.S.‑planned Ebola quarantine centre.

Kenyan police opened fire with tear gas to disperse crowds in the town of Nanyuki after protesters rallied against the U.S. proposal to build a 50‑bed Ebola quarantine facility in the area. Demonstrators displayed Kenyan flags, a white coffin emblazoned with the word “Ebola,” and placards demanding transparency and reversal of the project. The protest followed last week’s fatal incident where two activists were shot by police during a similar demonstration, and a recent High Court ruling halted the facility’s opening amid claims it poses a serious public health risk. The U.S. cites the Kenya–Congo distance and limited airport infrastructure as reasons for choosing the site, while President William Ruto defends the plan, urging calm and discouraging politicization of the issue. Satellite imagery shows construction continuing despite the court order, prompting calls from local residents for government accountability.

Kenyan police opened fire with tear gas on a small group of demonstrators in the central town of Nanyuki on Sunday, after residents rallied against a U.S. proposal to establish a 50‑bed Ebola quarantine centre in the region.

The protestors waved Kenyan flags and carried a white coffin that bore the word “Ebola” in red paint. They held placards with slogans in Swahili and English, such as “We reject Ebola” and “Public trust requires transparency.”

Last week, police also dispersed protests of a similar nature, where two people were shot dead. The incident added fuel to the growing public concern over cross‑border infection risks and the lack of government transparency surrounding the facility.

In March, the High Court halted the facility’s opening after a rights group alleged the centre posed “grave and imminent risks” to public health. Despite the ruling, satellite imagery shows construction still ongoing at the airbase.

The U.S. official who spoke to the BBC said Kenya was chosen for its proximity to the Congolese epicentre of the outbreak, limited airport capability, and the ability to treat Americans in a timely manner. The Congolese city of Bunia lies 780 km (485 miles) from Nanyuki, with Uganda separating the D.R. Congo and Kenya.

President William Ruto defended the effort, stating that the U.S. request to build the centre was “inhuman if rejected,” and urged Kenyans not to politicise the serious matter of Ebola. He cautioned politicians against “reckless” talk about the issue.

Local protester Priscilla Imani told Reuters that the plan has flooded the town with fear, saying “Laikipia is not a dumping site and our voices must be heard.”

According to officials, the proposed centre is intended to treat U.S. citizens affected by the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is to be staffed by U.S. medics, though it remains controversial amid the High Court’s intervention and earlier violent clashes.

The U.S. officials added that they were aware of the court case and remain “optimistic we can resolve objections.” A recent security filmshot shows the protective measures in place at the center, but residents demand that the construction halt according to legal orders.