Protests in Kenya against US Ebola center in the country leave 2 dead

A Kenyan court suspended, this Tuesday (2), for another three weeks, the United States' proposal to install a quarantine unit for Ebola patients in the country. The measure that authorized the installation and triggered protests that resulted in the death of two people was also suspended.

The court ordered the government to disclose the agreement reached with Washington.

The 50-bed unit, proposed to be located at an air base in central Kenya and intended for Americans exposed to the virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo or Uganda, has angered many Kenyans, who accuse the US of transferring the public health risk to the country.

Last week, a Kenyan court temporarily suspended the plan in response to a lawsuit filed by a human rights group. However, US military aircraft have continued to transport personnel and equipment in recent days, according to a US official and diplomatic sources.

Judge Patricia Nyaundi of the High Court of Kenya issued an order on Tuesday (2) prohibiting the Kenyan government from taking any steps to build or begin operations at the facility in the town of Nanyuki before the case is resolved.

The judge also ordered the government to disclose all agreements and operational protocols related to the facilities within seven days and scheduled the next hearing for June 23.

The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Hundreds of people protested against the plan in Nanyuki, a city in the center of the country, on Monday (1st). Protest organizer Patrick Wahome said two people were killed from gunshot wounds after police opened fire.

A security source also said two people had died, but did not specify the cause of the deaths. Police spokesman Michael Muchiri reported that he had no knowledge of the deaths.

President defends deal with US
On Monday, Kenyan President William Ruto said the facility was part of a broader national preparedness plan and a long-standing health partnership with Washington.

Ruto said she would serve both Kenyans and foreigners, although US officials have not confirmed this.

"We are a responsible government. We know what we are doing," declared Ruto.

Kenyan courts are known for their independence, especially compared to regional standards, although activists often accuse the government of ignoring or circumventing court orders.

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Ebola outbreak
The outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola is concentrated in eastern Congo and several cases have spread to neighboring Uganda.

There have been more than 900 suspected cases, including more than 220 suspected deaths from the disease.

Experts say the outbreak, declared on May 15, is likely significantly larger and more advanced than official figures suggest, after circulating undetected for many weeks.

President Donald Trump's government has stated that it "cannot and will not allow" any cases to enter the US, unlike what occurred during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa between 2014 and 2016, when infected citizens were treated on American soil.

An American citizen who contracted Ebola while treating patients in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a medical missionary was transferred to Germany last month for treatment, along with five other people who were also exposed to the virus.

A seventh person was taken to the Czech Republic.

The facility in Nanyuki would be staffed by members of the U.S. Public Health Service, a uniformed arm of the Department of Health and Human Services.

It aims to welcome Americans who have been exposed to the virus but are still asymptomatic. Patients who develop symptoms would be referred for treatment in other countries, US officials explained.

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Source: CNN