**Title: US Ebola Center in Kenya Continues Operations Despite Court Ruling, Activists Claim**
A US-backed Ebola quarantine facility in Kenya is reportedly operating in defiance of a court order that suspended its activities, according to local activists. The facility, which has sparked significant controversy, is managed by the US-based Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse.
Samaritan’s Purse confirmed that seven of its employees, who had previously worked in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), are currently undergoing a 21-day quarantine in military tents. The organization stated that none of the employees have exhibited symptoms of Ebola but did not disclose the specific location of the quarantine.
Local media reports indicate that these military tents are situated at Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki, approximately 200 kilometers north of Nairobi, and are intended for the proposed quarantine center. The facility garnered attention in May when the US government announced a $13.5 million initiative aimed at bolstering Kenya's preparedness against Ebola, particularly in light of an outbreak in the DRC, which has seen 2,344 confirmed cases and at least 930 deaths.
The US government has defended the establishment of the center, asserting that it is crucial for protecting public health by providing a quarantine space for Americans who may have been exposed to the Ebola virus abroad. Kenyan President William Ruto has also backed the initiative, describing it as part of a larger network of 24 preparedness centers across the country.
However, the project has faced significant opposition from various groups, including the constitutional watchdog Katiba Institute and the Law Society of Kenya. These organizations have raised concerns that the 50-bed center could pose a public health risk in a nation that has not recorded any cases of Ebola. Protests against the facility have resulted in at least two fatalities.
In a recent ruling, the Kenyan High Court found Health Minister Aden Duale in contempt for violating an earlier order that halted work at the quarantine site. Following this ruling, Duale stated that he had instructed a complete suspension of all construction and activities at the facility.
The Katiba Institute expressed alarm over reports that the seven foreign nationals exposed to Ebola had been moved to the contested facility at Laikipia Air Base. They criticized any such transfer under a bilateral agreement as "unacceptable," emphasizing that it represents a serious violation of the High Court's orders.
In a statement on social media, the organization described the situation as a "flagrant and dangerous defiance" of the court's conservatory orders, which explicitly halted the establishment and operationalization of the quarantine site. The Law Society of Kenya echoed these sentiments, labeling the apparent disregard for the court ruling as indicative of "impunity and lawlessness."
As the situation unfolds, the controversy surrounding the Ebola quarantine facility in Kenya highlights the tensions between public health initiatives and legal compliance, raising questions about the governance and oversight of health-related projects in the region.