MWE Correspondent
Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has defended a bilateral agreement with the United States for the establishment of a specialized Ebola treatment facility intended to serve American nationals in Laikipia County, amid growing public debate and legal challenges surrounding the project.
Duale said the agreement is grounded in international health cooperation and does not pose a risk to Kenyan citizens, emphasizing that the facility is designed under strict medical and safety protocols consistent with global disease-control standards.
His remarks come at a time of heightened political and public scrutiny, with opposition leaders and civil society groups questioning the necessity, transparency, and potential security implications of hosting such a specialized treatment centre on Kenyan soil.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has been among those calling for stronger public resistance to the project, urging the government to respect ongoing legal processes and address concerns raised by professionals and activists opposing the facility.
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Last week, a Kenyan court issued a temporary injunction halting the construction of the facility, following a petition filed by health activists and a coalition of medical professionals who argue that the project may pose public health and environmental risks.
The court order has effectively paused implementation of the agreement until the case is fully heard and determined, placing the government and its U.S. counterparts in a period of legal uncertainty.
Supporters of the project argue that the facility is part of broader international cooperation in epidemic preparedness and response, particularly in managing highly infectious diseases such as Ebola, which has affected several African countries in past outbreaks.
However, critics maintain that Kenya should not host a foreign-designated treatment centre for a disease perceived as high-risk, especially without full public consultation and parliamentary scrutiny. They warn that such facilities could raise concerns about biosafety, emergency preparedness, and local healthcare capacity.
Public debate continues to intensify across political and medical circles, with both supporters and opponents framing the project as a matter of national health security and sovereignty.
Government officials have reiterated that no construction will proceed until legal proceedings are concluded, while emphasizing Kenya’s commitment to international health partnerships.
