High Court Suspends U.S.-Linked Ebola Quarantine Facility Planned for Laikipia

High Court Suspends U.S.-Linked Ebola Quarantine Facility Planned for Laikipia

The High Court in Nairobi has issued conservatory orders temporarily suspending the planned establishment of a United States-linked Ebola quarantine and treatment facility in Laikipia County, dealing a major legal setback to the controversial proposal that had already sparked widespread public debate and political scrutiny.

The orders were issued following an urgent petition filed by Katiba Institute at the Milimani Law Courts challenging the government’s decision to facilitate the establishment of the Ebola quarantine centre in collaboration with the United States government.

In her ruling delivered on Thursday, May 29, Justice Patricia Nyaundi barred the government from facilitating, approving, operationalising, or permitting the establishment of any Ebola exposure, quarantine, isolation, or treatment facility linked to the U.S. government or any foreign agency pending the hearing and determination of the case.

“Upon reading the Notice of Motion dated May 28, 2026, a conservatory order is hereby issued restraining the respondents from establishing, operationalising, facilitating, approving establishment of any Ebola exposure, quarantine, isolation or treatment facility in Kenya,” the court directed.

The court further restrained the government from admitting into Kenya, transferring, receiving, or facilitating the entry of persons exposed to or infected with Ebola under the reported arrangement involving the United States.

The conservatory orders came after Katiba Institute argued that the proposed facility posed an imminent threat to public safety and constitutional rights if allowed to proceed before the matter is fully heard in court.

The constitutional lobby group maintained that the government had failed to conduct adequate public participation, disclose the details of the agreement, or undertake the necessary environmental and public health assessments required under Kenyan law.

“Katiba Institute is asking the Court to determine whether the Executive can expose the public to such significant risks without complying with constitutional safeguards,” part of the petition read.

Justice Nyaundi certified the matter as urgent and directed the Attorney-General Dorcas Oduor and Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, who were named as respondents in the case, to file their responses within 48 hours after being served.

The court also granted Katiba Institute permission to file a supplementary affidavit within one day after receiving the responses, with the matter scheduled for mention again on June 2, 2026.

Additionally, the judge warned that failure to comply with the conservatory orders would attract legal consequences against any individual or institution found violating the directive.

The court ruling comes only hours after President William Ruto’s administration reportedly approved the establishment of the quarantine facility in Laikipia County, with the United States committing approximately Ksh1.7 billion toward Kenya’s Ebola preparedness and emergency response systems.

According to reports that triggered intense public reaction, the facility was expected to become operational within one week and would initially consist of a 50-bed field hospital capable of future expansion to accommodate up to 250 beds if necessary.

The facility was also expected to be staffed by personnel from the U.S. Public Health Service, with reports indicating that teams had already begun specialised training at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland ahead of deployment to Kenya.

The proposal emerged amid escalating Ebola concerns in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, with health authorities warning of possible regional spread across East Africa.

Earlier this week, the Ministry of Health confirmed that Kenya was engaged in discussions with the United States and other international partners regarding Ebola preparedness and response mechanisms.

Even so, the ministry insisted that any international health cooperation would strictly comply with Kenya’s public health laws, biosafety regulations, and constitutional safeguards.

The proposed facility has since generated sharp reactions from civil society groups, legal experts, medical professionals, and sections of the public, with critics questioning why Kenya should host quarantine facilities for foreign nationals exposed to highly infectious diseases.

Several lobby groups, including the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), have also demanded full public disclosure of all agreements, environmental assessments, biosafety approvals, and emergency preparedness plans linked to the project.

Meanwhile, government officials continue to maintain that Kenya remains fully prepared to handle Ebola-related threats through enhanced surveillance systems, screening at border points, designated testing laboratories, and emergency response coordination mechanisms.

The High Court’s intervention now places the controversial proposal on hold as the legal battle over the planned Ebola quarantine facility moves to the next stage.

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High Court Suspends U.S.-Linked Ebola Quarantine Facility Planned for Laikipia