NAIROBI – Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale appeared before the Milimani High Court on Tuesday after judges found him in contempt of court for allegedly failing to comply with orders suspending the construction of a controversial U.S.-backed Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base in central Kenya.
Justice Patricia Nyaundi ruled that Duale had continued with the establishment of the facility despite court orders issued in late May and reaffirmed in early June, which barred the government from proceeding with the project until a legal challenge is determined. The court ordered the minister to appear for mitigation and possible sentencing.
The case stems from a petition filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the Katiba Institute, which argue that the project was undertaken without adequate public participation, transparency, or parliamentary oversight. The petitioners also contend that Kenya’s healthcare system could face additional risks if foreign Ebola-exposed individuals are hosted in the country.
The proposed 50-bed facility at Laikipia Air Base was designed to quarantine Americans exposed to Ebola during the ongoing regional outbreak affecting parts of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The United States has pledged more than $13 million to support Kenya’s Ebola preparedness efforts and the development of the facility.
The project has triggered widespread public opposition and protests in Nanyuki and other parts of Kenya. Demonstrators have raised concerns about public safety and questioned why Kenya should host foreign Ebola patients. Some protests turned violent, resulting in deaths and injuries, according to local media and international reports.
President William Ruto’s administration has defended the facility as part of a broader national disease-preparedness strategy. Duale has repeatedly stated that the centre is intended to strengthen emergency response capabilities and insisted that the government respects the rule of law. However, rights groups argue that construction and related activities continued despite the court’s suspension orders.
The ruling marks a significant legal setback for the government and could intensify scrutiny of Kenya’s cooperation with the United States on public health and security initiatives. The High Court is expected to determine what sanctions, if any, will be imposed on the health minister as the broader constitutional challenge against the Ebola facility continues.
