Nanyuki residents protest planned Ebola quarantine facility

A section of Nanyuki residents took to the streets on Monday, June 1, to protest the proposed establishment of a U.S.-linked Ebola virus quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base.

Hundreds of youth and community members marched through the town carrying placards and tree branches, demanding the complete cancellation of the project.

The demonstrators expressed concerns that the facility could expose local communities to serious health risks and increase the possibility of an Ebola outbreak in the region.

The protests occurred despite a High Court order that had temporarily halted plans to set up the facility pending further legal proceedings.

Protesters insisted that the project should be abandoned altogether rather than merely suspended.

“It is the Ebola facility they plan to construct here that we do not want,” one demonstrator said during the march.

Videos and images from the scene showed large crowds moving through major streets, with some protesters blocking roads as they voiced their opposition to the proposed facility.

Security was heightened across Nanyuki, with heavily deployed police officers and the military monitoring the demonstrations. Tensions escalated later in the day as police attempted to disperse the crowds and restore order, leading to running battles between officers and protesters in parts of the town.

The proposed quarantine facility has generated significant public debate in recent days, with residents, local leaders, and various stakeholders raising concerns over its potential impact on public health and safety.

Authorities have yet to issue a comprehensive statement addressing the demonstrators’ demands or outlining the next steps regarding the project.

The government has insisted the project is part of Kenya’s global duties to assist in such situations.

Tensions remained high in the area as the military blocked the group from accessing the camp.