A section of Nanyuki residents took to the streets on Monday, June 1, to protest the proposed establishment of a U.S.-linked Ebola virus quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base.
Hundreds of youth and community members marched through the town carrying placards and tree branches, demanding the complete cancellation of the project. Demonstrators expressed concerns that the facility could expose local communities to serious health risks and increase the possibility of an Ebola outbreak in the region.
The protests occurred despite a High Court order that had temporarily halted plans to set up the facility pending further legal proceedings. Protesters insisted that the project should be abandoned altogether rather than merely suspended.
“It is the Ebola facility they plan to construct here that we do not want,” one demonstrator said during the march.
Videos and images from the scene showed large crowds moving through major streets, with some protesters blocking roads as they voiced their opposition to the proposed facility.
Security was heightened across the town, with heavily deployed police officers and military personnel monitoring the demonstrations. Tensions escalated later in the day as police attempted to disperse the crowds and restore order, leading to running battles between officers and protesters in parts of Nanyuki.
The proposed quarantine facility has generated significant public debate in recent days, with residents, local leaders, and various stakeholders raising concerns over its potential impact on public health and safety.
Authorities have yet to issue a comprehensive statement addressing the demonstrators’ demands or outlining the next steps regarding the project. However, the government has maintained that the initiative forms part of Kenya’s international obligations and preparedness efforts in responding to global health emergencies.
Tensions remained high throughout the day as military personnel blocked protesters from accessing the air base, where the facility is reportedly planned to be established.
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