US Builds Kenya Ebola Facility Despite Court Orders

Construction of a US quarantine facility for possible Ebola cases in Kenya is continuing despite public protests and repeated court orders temporarily halting the work. Around 20 US flights carrying medical equipment, technology and specialist personnel have landed at the military base in Nanyuki since late May, according to flight data and multiple sources.

The 50-bed facility is intended primarily for US citizens who may have been exposed to the Ebola virus while deployed in Africa. The State Department said those at high risk of infection would undergo a 21-day quarantine there, with patients showing confirmed symptoms transferred to other medical facilities for treatment.

The project has provoked strong opposition in Kenya, where critics argue the United States is transferring health risks to the country. At least two people have died during protests in Nanyuki. A Kenyan court first halted construction on 28 May and this week extended the ban for a further three weeks, ordering the government to disclose its agreement with Washington.

Despite the rulings, construction is continuing and the facility may be completed within days, according to sources. The US Embassy said it was working with the Kenyan government to resolve the legal challenges.

(reuters, max)