Hundreds of residents took to the streets of Nanyuki, Kenya, on Monday to protest plans by the United States to establish an Ebola quarantine facility at a military base in the town, intensifying a growing dispute over the controversial project.
The demonstrations came just days after Kenya’s High Court ordered the government to temporarily suspend the plan following a lawsuit that argued the facility could pose risks to public health.
A demonstrator gestures as he participates in a protest against a U.S.-backed Ebola quarantine plan on the establishment of a 50-bed facility at a Kenyan air force base that was intended to host Americans exposed to Ebola, in Nanyuki town, in Laikipia County, Kenya June 1, 2026. REUTERS/John Muchucha
According to U.S. officials, the proposed 50-bed quarantine unit would be used to house American citizens who have been exposed to Ebola but are not showing symptoms. Kenyan authorities have confirmed the project, describing it as part of broader efforts to strengthen emergency response capabilities.
Health Minister Aden Duale said the facility forms part of a wider strategy aimed at improving preparedness for health emergencies.
Despite the court order, signs of continued activity around the project have fueled public concern. Diplomats and experts told Reuters that military aircraft movements in and out of Nanyuki appeared to be linked to ongoing U.S. preparations for the facility.
A Reuters witness reported increased police and military presence on roads leading to the air base over the weekend. Flight-tracking data also showed a U.S. military C-130 transport aircraft arriving in Nanyuki on Friday afternoon.
A demonstrator holds a Kenyan flag during a protest against a U.S.-backed Ebola quarantine plan on the establishment of a 50-bed facility at a Kenyan air force base that was intended to host Americans exposed to Ebola, in Nanyuki town, in Laikipia County, Kenya June 1, 2026. REUTERS/John Muchucha
Video footage obtained by Reuters showed protesters gathering several kilometers from the planned site, blowing whistles and erecting road barricades. Smoke was seen rising from burning objects on the roadway, while local residents estimated the number of demonstrators reached into the hundreds.
Kenyan television networks aired footage of crowds assembled near the military base, where security forces maintained a visible presence.
Organizers of the protest said they want the facility permanently closed by June 9.
“We are picketing for our lives,” said protest organizer Patrick Wahome, who expressed fears that any potential infection could spread through the local community because military personnel stationed at the base live alongside residents and share public spaces, including schools.
Women dressed in scrubs walk along the street as demonstrators participate during a protest against a U.S.-backed Ebola quarantine plan on the establishment of a 50-bed facility at a Kenyan air force base that was intended to host Americans exposed to Ebola, in Nanyuki town, in Laikipia County, Kenya June 1, 2026. REUTERS/John Muchucha
Many business owners also reported disruptions caused by the demonstrations. Café owner Patrick Maina said he was forced to keep his business closed, warning that the situation could worsen in the coming days.
The quarantine facility was originally expected to become operational last Friday. However, the court’s intervention has placed the project on hold while legal challenges proceed.
