Nairobi, Kenya – Two people were killed during protests in the central Kenyan town of Nanyuki against US plans to build a quarantine facility for Ebola cases.
The move has sparked widespread controversy and public concern about potential health risks.
Protests against an American project
Patrick Wahome, one of the protest organizers, said the two victims died from their injuries after police opened fire on hundreds of protesters.
The protesters had gathered to demonstrate against the project near an airbase slated to house the new facility.
The plan involves building a 50-bed unit to treat American citizens
who have contracted Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
This has sparked objections from some Kenyan citizens, who believe the project could pose health risks to local communities.
However, a Kenyan police spokesperson did not confirm any fatalities during the protests,
stating that he had no information on the matter.
The judiciary intervenes to halt the project
In a related development, a Kenyan court has decided to further suspend the project following a lawsuit filed by a human rights organization.
The lawsuit called for a review of the legal and environmental procedures related to the facility’s construction.
High Court Justice Patricia Nyaounde issued an order preventing authorities
from taking any steps to build or operate the facility in Nanyuki until a final ruling is issued in the case.
Despite the court’s decision, reports indicate that personnel and equipment have continued to arrive via US military aircraft in recent days.
This has intensified the controversy surrounding the project.
These developments come amidst the ongoing Ebola outbreak in parts of Central and East Africa.
This is occurring against the backdrop of international efforts
to strengthen health response capacities and combat the spread of the disease,
which represents one of the world’s deadliest viral epidemics.
