Kenya: US-backed Ebola quarantine center project halted by government order
Tensions escalated between the executive and judicial authorities.
Written by Ziad Abdel Fattah:
In a striking development reflecting escalating tensions between Executive authorities In the judicial sphere, Kenyan Health Minister Aden Duale announced an immediate halt to the construction of an Ebola quarantine facility, which was being built with US support inside an air base in the center of the country, following his conviction for contempt of court for failing to comply with a previous decision to stop the project.
The decision came after the minister appeared before a Kenyan court, which had issued an order to halt the construction of the facility near Nanyuki, following popular protests that witnessed acts of violence in opposition to the project.
The facility is intended to receive Americans infected with Ebola.
The planned facility was intended to receive American citizens suspected of having been exposed to the Ebola virus, amid an ongoing outbreak of the disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where more than a thousand cases have been recorded.
Satellite images taken on June 22 revealed that construction work was continuing despite the court ruling, showing an expansion in site preparation, an increase in the number of tents, and the creation of new structures believed to be container units, compared to earlier images from earlier in the month.
Warning against repeated violation of court orders
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Patricia Nyaundi Mandi warned the minister against repeating his violation of court orders, before deciding to release him without imposing a penalty.
In contrast, flight tracking data and diplomatic sources reported that US aircraft continued to land at the airbase, carrying medical equipment and specialist teams, even after the decision to halt the project was issued, with personnel training continuing on site.
This crisis highlights the challenges Kenya faces in balancing the health response to the regional Ebola outbreak with legal and sovereignty considerations, amid increasing internal and external pressures.
