The controversy erupted after reports revealed that the US was considering transferring exposed American citizens to Kenya instead of bringing them back to US soil.
A Kenyan high court has ordered the temporary suspension of plans for the United States to set up an Ebola quarantine facility in the country.
In its petition before the court, governance watchdog Katiba Institute argued that the arrangement posed “grave and imminent risks” to public health, constitutional governance, and national sovereignty.
The institute sought urgent conservatory orders barring the government from facilitating the entry of Ebola-exposed persons into Kenya pending full judicial review.
High Court Judge Patricia Nyaundi said in her orders late on Thursday that Kenya was also not allowed to admit anyone exposed to or infected by Ebola under the planned agreement with the United States, until a case challenging the deal was heard and determined.
Public outcry
The ruling follows mounting public concern and legal challenges over reports that Washington planned to establish a quarantine and treatment facility in Kenya for American citizens exposed to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The proposed facility was reportedly to be located at a Kenyan air force base in Laikipia and staffed by US public health personnel.
The court’s temporary orders effectively freeze any implementation of the disputed arrangement until further hearings are conducted, Reuters News Agency reports.
The controversy erupted after international media reports revealed that the US administration was considering transferring exposed American citizens to Kenya instead of bringing them back to US soil.
The move marked a major shift from previous Ebola responses, during which infected or exposed Americans were typically isolated and treated within the United States or Europe.
Infected US citizens blocked
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said last week that lawful US permanent residents who have been in the DRC, Uganda or South Sudan within the last 21 days cannot enter the United States.
The proposal has triggered fierce backlash across Kenya, with medical professionals, legal experts, and opposition voices questioning why a country with no confirmed Ebola cases should host high-risk quarantine operations for foreign nationals.
Critics argue the plan could expose Kenya to unnecessary health risks while overwhelming preparedness systems.
Kenya’s Ministry of Health has acknowledged ongoing discussions with international partners regarding Ebola preparedness but has avoided directly confirming operational details of the proposed quarantine facility.
The current outbreak in Congo, involving the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, has already prompted emergency international containment measures and travel restrictions.
