Nairobi, Kenya – Kenya’s government has approved a United States plan to establish an Ebola quarantine and treatment facility at Laikipia Air Force Base, a move aimed at managing American citizens exposed to the ongoing outbreak in Central Africa.
U.S. officials confirmed that Kenya granted written approval on May 28, 2026, allowing access to the military base in central Kenya for the construction and operation of the facility.
The proposed centre will include a 50-bed quarantine unit expected to become operational by May 29–30, staffed by U.S. Public Health Service personnel and military teams. Additional isolation and biocontainment units are also planned as part of the broader response infrastructure.
According to officials, the facility is designed to provide faster medical intervention for Americans exposed to Ebola, reducing the need for long-distance evacuation flights to the United States, which can exceed 12 hours and pose higher transmission risks.
The development comes amid a worsening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly in Ituri province, where more than 1,000 suspected cases and about 240 deaths have been recorded since late April. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a public health emergency, with limited spread already reported in neighbouring Uganda.
Kenya’s Ministry of Health described the agreement as part of global efforts to contain the outbreak, noting that the arrangement complies with national laws and includes safety safeguards.
However, the decision has triggered strong reactions within Kenya. Critics, including medical professionals and civil society groups, have raised concerns about national sovereignty, public safety, and the rationale for hosting a facility primarily designated for foreign nationals.
The Kenya Medical Association and other stakeholders have called for greater transparency, with some threatening legal action and industrial protests over the agreement.
Questions have also been raised about why Kenya was selected for the facility and whether the arrangement could expose local communities to potential risks, despite assurances from authorities that no Ebola cases have been reported within the country.
The development highlights Kenya’s strategic role in regional health security and international emergency response efforts, while also underscoring tensions surrounding foreign-backed health and military operations on domestic soil.
Monitoring and response efforts across East Africa continue as authorities work to contain the outbreak.
