Kenyan Court Halts US-Backed Ebola Quarantine Center Plans

The Supreme Court in Nairobi has issued a suspension order against the establishment of an Ebola quarantine center in Kenya, which was planned under a cooperation agreement with the United States, according to the Kenyans website.

The court's order, excerpted by the website, stated: "After reviewing the application dated May 28, 2026, an order was issued preventing the defendants from establishing, operating, facilitating, or approving the establishment of any facilities for Ebola detection, quarantine, isolation, or treatment in Kenya."

This ruling followed a petition submitted by the Kenyan human rights organization, Katiba Institute. Activists expressed concerns that the center could pose a threat to public security, urging the court to bar the government from creating any Ebola quarantine or treatment centers under agreements with foreign countries.

Previously, Kenyan authorities had approved the creation of a quarantine center in Laikipia County, which was expected to commence operations within a week. The facility was planned to initially offer 50 beds, with the capacity to expand to 250 beds. The center was to be managed by a US medical team undergoing training at Andrews Air Force Base in the United States.

Meanwhile, the Ituri region in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo remains the epicenter of the current Ebola outbreak, with approximately 1,000 suspected cases and around 220 suspected deaths reported. In neighboring Uganda, which borders Kenya, there has been one confirmed death and seven suspected cases.