By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, July 17, 2026 - A group of seven American aid workers who helped combat the deadly Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are now undergoing a 21-day quarantine at the controversial US-funded bio-isolation facility in Nanyuki, marking the first known use of the centre.
The development comes just days after Washington introduced new travel rules requiring US citizens returning from Ebola-affected areas in the DRC to spend three weeks in a third country before travelling home.
The aid workers, employed by the Christian humanitarian organisation Samaritan's Purse, have not shown any symptoms of Ebola, but are being monitored as a precaution.
"Samaritan's Purse has seven American Disaster Assistance Response Team staff members there. None of them have any symptoms, but they are being quarantined by the Kenyan government for 21 days," said the organisation's President and CEO, Franklin Graham.
A US State Department official said the group voluntarily entered the Kenyan facility after serving on the front lines of the Ebola response in eastern DRC.
"Kenyan authorities have authorised their movement into the facility under the observation of the US Public Health Service clinicians," the official said, adding that the measure was taken "strictly out of an abundance of caution."
The quarantine has thrust the Nanyuki isolation centre back into the spotlight. Construction of the facility has faced strong opposition from sections of the Kenyan public and remains the subject of an ongoing court case, with the High Court previously ordering work to stop pending the determination of a legal challenge.
According to sources familiar with the operation, the seven workers arrived earlier this week and are staying in temporary accommodation within the facility. While some had direct contact with Ebola patients during treatment efforts, others were involved in support roles, including construction and logistics. One individual is reported to have had a potential high-risk exposure and is being closely monitored.
The United States maintains that the facility poses no danger to surrounding communities and forms part of broader efforts to strengthen regional preparedness against Ebola.
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The US Embassy in Nairobi has said it is working with Kenya to improve disease surveillance, laboratory testing, border screening, infection prevention, emergency response and community awareness in high-risk areas.
The latest quarantine comes as the Ebola outbreak in the DRC continues to worsen. According to the World Health Organization, the Bundibugyo strain of the virus has claimed at least 828 lives since May and is continuing to spread, with many infections going undetected.
Samaritan's Purse remains one of the largest international organisations supporting Ebola treatment in the DRC. Earlier this month, one of its American health workers who contracted the virus was evacuated to Germany for specialist treatment.
Despite previously criticising the new US travel restrictions, Graham said the Nanyuki facility is well-equipped to handle any emergency should one arise.
"It's a state-of-the-art facility. If somebody did get sick, that's the place you want to take them," he said.
The United States has also committed Sh1.9 billion to support Kenya's Ebola preparedness, including disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, treatment units and rapid response teams, as both countries work to prevent the outbreak from spreading across the region.