Two Dead as Violent Protests Erupt Over US-Funded Ebola Facility in Nanyuki

Two people died during violent protests in Nanyuki on Monday, 1 June, as residents demonstrated against a proposed US-funded Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base.

The deaths were confirmed on Tuesday by protest organiser Patrick Wahome and a security source cited by Reuters. The circumstances surrounding the fatalities remain unclear, and the National Police Service had not issued an official statement at the time of reporting.

Hundreds of residents gathered in Nanyuki early on Monday, marching through the town with placards and chanting slogans opposing the planned facility. Protesters raised concerns about potential health risks and questioned why the centre was being established in Kenya rather than the United States.

Wahome said demonstrators were demanding the facility's closure by 9 June.
Tensions escalated when protesters attempted to reach the site but were stopped by military personnel. The resulting standoff lasted nearly two hours before senior officials intervened. Images from the scene showed fires burning along roads and smoke rising above parts of the town.

Security forces were seen firing during the clashes, while residents reported that police later moved in to restore order and direct people back to their homes. Earlier reports indicated that several people had suffered serious injuries, prompting concerns that the number of casualties could increase.

The proposed Ebola facility is the subject of an ongoing court case. The High Court has extended conservatory orders suspending the project while it considers a petition filed by the Katiba Institute. President William Ruto has defended the plan, stating that it would improve Kenya's preparedness for future disease outbreaks.

The United States has deployed a specialised Ebola response team to Kenya to assist with the monitoring and quarantine of American citizens returning from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The project has also become a subject of debate in the United States.

The US House Committee on Foreign Affairs criticised the Trump administration's decision to use a facility in Kenya, arguing that secure treatment facilities already exist within the United States. In a statement, the committee said the government should assist Americans abroad by bringing them home rather than relying on another country to host patients.

Lawmakers also questioned the decision to reduce US health funding to Kenya while expecting the country to accommodate American patients. In Kenya, civil society organisations have raised concerns about sovereignty, legal oversight and public health safeguards.

Reports that some American citizens had already arrived at Laikipia Air Base before the facility became fully operational added to local concerns. Residents and advocacy groups have called for greater transparency from both governments regarding the project's purpose, management and legal framework.

The US government has issued a travel advisory urging its citizens in Kenya to remain vigilant because of the possibility of further demonstrations. The High Court is expected to continue hearing arguments on the legality of the project as local communities maintain pressure for their concerns to be addressed.