**Kenyan Court Finds Health Minister in Contempt Over US Ebola Quarantine Facility**
In a significant legal ruling, Kenya’s High Court has found Health Minister Aden Duale in contempt for proceeding with the construction of a quarantine facility intended for United States nationals potentially infected with the Ebola virus. The court's decision, delivered by Justice Patricia Nyaundi Mande, came after Duale ignored multiple court orders issued in late May and early June that mandated a halt to all construction activities at the site.
The facility, which was planned to be located at the Laikipia Air Base near Nanyuki, was intended to accommodate US citizens exposed to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda. However, the decision to establish the quarantine center has sparked widespread protests among Kenyans, particularly given that the country has not recorded any Ebola infections.
Demonstrations erupted last month, with hundreds of citizens expressing their opposition to the facility. Protesters, including healthcare workers, voiced concerns about the potential risks of importing the virus into Kenya and criticized the government's acceptance of a $13.5 million contribution from the US for Ebola preparedness, viewing it as an attempt to downplay the seriousness of the situation.
President William Ruto defended the establishment of the facility, stating that it was part of an agreement with longstanding partners in the United States. “I gave the okay for the site because it was an agreement and a partnership with friends who have walked with Kenya for 30, 40 years,” Ruto said.
The court's ruling followed a complaint from the Katiba Institute, a rights group that argued the facility's development was being conducted in secrecy and without adequate public consultation. The NGO has called for transparency regarding the deal, demanding access to health and biosafety assessments, regulatory approvals, and operational protocols related to the quarantine center.
Despite the court's orders to cease construction, Minister Duale has maintained that the project will continue. Earlier this month, he informed parliament that the government would not halt the facility's development, asserting its importance in the context of public health preparedness.
Duale is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday for mitigation and sentencing. Under Kenyan law, contempt of court can result in a maximum fine of 200,000 shillings (approximately $1,500) and/or a prison sentence of up to six months.
The Ebola outbreak in the DRC was confirmed in May, with the World Health Organization reporting 896 confirmed cases and at least 232 deaths as of June 17. Uganda, which shares a border with Kenya, has reported 19 confirmed cases, including two fatalities. The outbreak has also impacted healthcare workers, with at least 75 cases reported in the DRC and 17 deaths among medical professionals.
As the situation develops, the Kenyan government faces increasing pressure from both the public and health professionals to address the concerns surrounding the proposed quarantine facility and its implications for the country's healthcare system.