Kenya’s police crack down on protest against US Ebola centre in Nanyuki | Ebola News
Gunfire and Tear Gas Used as Protesters Clash with Police in Nanyuki
NANYUKI, Kenya — Police used gunshots, water cannons, and tear gas to disperse protesters in this central town on Tuesday, as tensions flared over the establishment of a quarantine center for U.S. citizens potentially exposed to Ebola.
The unrest erupted as hundreds of demonstrators ignited fires and threw stones at law enforcement, expressing their discontent with the proposed quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base, which they believe shifts the responsibility of handling the Ebola outbreak from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda onto Kenya.
Kenya has not reported any cases of Ebola, and many residents voiced strong opposition to the arrival of potential virus carriers. The quarantine center is set to feature 50 isolation beds and is managed by U.S. personnel. Despite a temporary construction halt ordered by Kenya’s High Court and significant local political opposition, work on the facility continued through last week.
In response to the outrage, President William Ruto’s administration has reaffirmed its commitment to the project, arguing that Kenya has benefited from U.S. financial and technical support over the years. The U.S. government has pledged $13.5 million to enhance Kenya’s preparedness against Ebola.
