Kenyan President Defends US Ebola Quarantine Facility

Kenyan President William Ruto on Thursday defended his government’s decision to allow the United States to set up an Ebola quarantine facility in Kenya, saying it was “the right thing” to do.

The facility is being built at Laikipia Air Base near Nanyuki in central Kenya. Satellite images seen by Reuters showed the US government moving ahead rapidly despite protests and Kenyan court orders blocking the work.

The tented compound is due to serve as a 50-bed isolation unit for Americans who may have been exposed to Ebola. The outbreak is centred in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where hundreds of people have been infected. It has also spread to neighboring Uganda, which has reported 16 cases.

Speaking during a state visit to South Africa, Ruto said it would be very inhuman for Kenya to refuse a US request to set up a facility at American expense.

The US embassy in Nairobi said it was working with the Kenyan government to resolve any objections. At least two people were killed earlier this week in protests against the facility in Nanyuki.

(reuters, est)