US Embassy Defends Kenya Ebola Facility
In an official statement, the embassy framed the facility as an integral component of a broader strategy to contain the spread of Ebola amid the active outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and bolster health security across the region.
"The bio-isolation facility in Laikipia is part of a holistic response to prevent the spread of the disease and lessen health risks for the region as a whole; it does not pose risk to nearby communities," the embassy said.
The embassy acknowledged an active court challenge against the project and confirmed it was engaging Kenyan authorities to address public concerns and clarify the facility's purpose.
The reassurances came one day after Kenya's High Court extended a suspension on the facility by three weeks and ordered the government to publicly disclose the agreement underpinning the project. The legal challenge was brought by the Katiba Institute, a constitutional and governance watchdog citing concerns over legality, public health risks, and a lack of transparency.
Anger has also spilled into the streets. On Monday, hundreds of residents and youth demonstrators gathered outside the Laikipia Air Base facility in Nanyuki — roughly 200 kilometers north of Nairobi — demanding greater government accountability. Police deployed tear gas and fired live rounds into the air as protesters attempted to advance toward the site. Two people were killed during the unrest, according to officials.
The embassy defended the facility's broader strategic value, arguing it would ultimately strengthen — not strain — Kenya's own healthcare infrastructure.
"Expanding regional capacity to isolate and test asymptomatic individuals, including Americans working on the response effort, will enhance Kenya's readiness and preserve Kenya's existing clinical resources to assist Kenyan citizens," it added.
Washington's support extends beyond the Laikipia site, the embassy noted, encompassing reinforced border screening, expanded laboratory testing, and preparedness measures in counties identified as high-risk. The United States has committed more than $162 million in direct assistance toward combating the Ebola outbreak, according to the statement.
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