By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 1 June 2026 - A wave of public anger swept through Nanyuki as thousands of demonstrators marched through the town's streets to oppose plans to establish a controversial Ebola quarantine facility for United States citizens at the Laikipia Airbase.
Waving Kenyan flags, singing the National Anthem and chanting anti-Ebola slogans, the protesters transformed what began as a health concern into a politically charged confrontation over sovereignty, transparency and public safety.
The demonstrators marched towards the military installation before they were stopped by heavily armed security personnel near the main gate of the airbase.
Kenya Air Force officers blocked access to the facility, forcing the crowd to hold its protest outside the perimeter.
Despite the standoff, the protesters remained defiant.
Many vowed to sustain demonstrations until both the Kenyan and American governments provide full disclosure on the reported arrangement that would see Ebola-exposed U.S. citizens quarantined in Kenya rather than on American soil.
The controversy stems from a United States proposal to establish a 50-bed quarantine facility at Laikipia Airbase as part of emergency measures responding to the latest Ebola outbreak in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
The facility was expected to accommodate American citizens exposed to the virus while abroad.
Ebola remains one of the world's deadliest viral diseases.
First identified in 1976 in Central Africa, the disease causes severe haemorrhagic fever and has killed thousands during successive outbreaks across the continent. The 2014 West African outbreak alone claimed more than 11,000 lives and exposed weaknesses in global epidemic preparedness.
The current concern centres on the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, which health experts say has no fully approved vaccine or treatment protocol, heightening international anxiety over containment efforts.
But in Kenya, the debate has rapidly shifted beyond public health.
Residents argue that decisions of such magnitude were reached without public participation. Critics have questioned why Kenya should host foreign Ebola-exposed individuals when the outbreak is concentrated elsewhere.
Speaking during the demonstrations, resident Marlin Ndegwa accused authorities of sidelining local communities.
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"We have not been consulted as residents. If such an agreement exists, why was the public not involved? Why should such a facility be brought here instead of being established in the countries directly affected?" he asked.
The proposal has also triggered fierce opposition from legal and civil society organisations.
The Law Society of Kenya and the Katiba Institute moved to court seeking to block the facility, arguing that the arrangement raised constitutional, public health and transparency concerns.
Their challenge resulted in a significant judicial intervention.
The High Court issued conservatory orders temporarily suspending the establishment, operationalisation or facilitation of any Ebola quarantine, isolation or treatment facility linked to the disputed arrangement. The court further barred the admission or transfer of Ebola-exposed individuals into Kenya pending the hearing and determination of the case.
The ruling has intensified national debate.
Supporters of the plan argue that Kenya's cooperation with international health agencies could strengthen epidemic preparedness and attract critical investment. The United States has already pledged millions of dollars towards Kenya's Ebola preparedness programmes.
Opponents, however, view the proposal as an unacceptable risk.
For many protesters in Nanyuki, the issue is no longer simply about Ebola. It is about who makes decisions on behalf of Kenyan citizens and whether communities can be asked to shoulder global health burdens without their consent.
As evening approached, protesters maintained that demonstrations would continue until their concerns are addressed.
What began as a public health proposal has now evolved into a national political controversy. One that sits at the intersection of diplomacy, public trust, constitutional rights and fears surrounding one of the world's most feared diseases.