Kenya Ebola Quarantine Center Operating Despite Court Order

Kenyan activists on Monday accused authorities of violating a court order that had halted the opening of an American-backed Ebola quarantine center after reports indicated Americans were already being held there. The facility at Laikipia Air Base, about 185 kilometers north of Nairobi near Nanyuki, was intended to quarantine Americans evacuated from Congo, where an Ebola outbreak that began two months ago has recorded 2,344 cases and at least 930 deaths.

A U.S. humanitarian organization, Samaritan’s Purse, stated over the weekend that seven of its American staff members from Congo were being quarantined for 21 days in large military tents at the base and had shown no symptoms. The Law Society of Kenya and Katiba Institute had petitioned the court, arguing that Kenya’s health system could be overwhelmed if an outbreak occurred.

A Kenyan court issued an order last month barring the facility’s operation, and Health Minister Aden Duale later directed that construction be suspended.

Nanyuki staged protests against the facility, and two people died when the demonstrations turned violent. Kenya has recorded no confirmed Ebola cases. Katiba Institute’s chief Nora Mbagathi told The Associated Press that the groups were concerned about the reports of Americans already being quarantined.

“Should any Kenyan government official be involved … they have completely betrayed the public trust and must be held personally accountable,” Mbagathi said. Samaritan’s Purse President and CEO Franklin Graham said the staff members were working on the front lines of the Ebola response in Congo and were being housed in fenced military tents with food provided by the U.S. military.

Graham did not respond to questions about the court order. Kenya’s Ministry of Health and the U.S. State Department did not respond to requests for comment. The United States has pledged $13.5 million toward Kenya’s Ebola preparedness efforts, and officials have discussed plans for 24 additional centers.