Kenyan Health Minister Aden Duale has ordered the suspension of construction for a U.S.-backed Ebola quarantine facility after being found in contempt of court. The High Court had previously ordered the project to be halted pending a case filed by the Law Society of Kenya and the Katiba Institute, a constitutional watchdog. Duale was ordered to appear for sentencing on Tuesday, where he apologized and stated it was not his intention to defy the court. The court accepted his apology and took no further action.
The facility, located at the Laikipia Air Base, is intended to house American personnel exposed to Ebola, including those evacuated from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The project is part of a larger effort involving 24 preparedness centers, with the U.S. pledging between $13 million and $13.5 million toward the partnership. However, petitioners argue that Kenya's overstretched and fragile health system may be unable to manage foreign Ebola patients safely.
President William Ruto defended the project as part of a long-standing partnership in health and security. The U.S. embassy stated the center posed no risk to locals and that they were working with the Kenyan government to resolve objections. Despite these assurances, the proposal sparked widespread protests, some of which turned violent and resulted in the deaths of at least three people by gunfire.
Before the suspension, Minister Duale had defended the facility, arguing that it would benefit both Kenyans and international partners. He claimed that fears regarding the importation of Ebola into surrounding communities were scientifically unfounded. Residents near the base had previously reported seeing U.S. military aircraft landing even after the court issued its suspension order on May 29.