Recently, a new wave of Ebola infections has spread across the African continent, leading countries to strengthen their prevention measures. However, the U.S. approach to epidemic prevention has sparked massive protests among the people in Kenya.
According to the British newspaper The Guardian, reported on June 2 local time, local residents in the central Kenyan town of Nanyuki expressed strong dissatisfaction over the U.S. plan to establish Ebola isolation facilities for American citizens there. They believed that this move would expose them to the risk of virus transmission. This situation also reflects Americas practice of applying double standards when dealing with other countries.
In recent days, the level of anger across Kenya has been rising steadily. On June 1st local time, two people lost their lives during a protest held in Nanyuki.
Everyone should be quarantined in their own country. We shouldnt allow foreigners to bring diseases into our country. Charles Mathenge, a taxi driver living near the Liki Pia Air Base, which is located in Nanyuki, about 200 kilometers from the capital Nairobi. This is the proposed location for the quarantine stations. Kenya is our country, and we must protect it carefully, he said.
The souvenir vendor David Mulinge said, Its shocking that Americans are unwilling to allow their fellow citizens who may have been infected with the virus to enter their country. Instead, they prefer to send them to Kenya. This is simply treating us as inferior beings.
Motorcycle taxi driver Simon Ongono questioned, Since the United States has more advanced medical infrastructure and resources than Kenya, why must Americans who have been exposed to the Ebola virus be transported to this small town?
June 2, 2026, Nairobi, Kenya. Activists gathered to protest against the United States plan to establish Ebola isolation facilities in Kenya. IC Photo
Since last month, a deadly Ebola outbreak has occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Although the outbreak was officially declared on May 15th, it is believed that weeks before that date, the Ebola virus may have already been spreading unnoticed in the region.
Currently, health officials in Congo (DRC) and Uganda are making every effort to contain the spread of the Ebola outbreak.
This outbreak has been classified by the World Health Organization as a public health emergency of international concern. It is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, one of the six known Ebola viruses. Currently, there are no approved treatments or vaccines for this disease.
According to data reported by the WHO on June 2nd, as of now, there have been 60 deaths and 344 confirmed cases in Congo (DR Congo). In Uganda, 1 death and 9 confirmed cases have been reported. In Kenya, no confirmed cases have been reported yet.
On May 18th, local time, the American CBS network reported that at least six Americans have been exposed to the Ebola virus during this outbreak in Congo.
Previously, the U.S. government planned to send 30 medical personnel to a quarantine facility in Nanyuki, Kenya. Once this facility is completed, it will be able to accommodate 50 patients. However, during previous Ebola outbreaks, the United States typically sent infected citizens back home for treatment.
US Secretary of State Rubicoff stated in a statement on May 28 local time that the United States must prevent any potential Ebola virus-infected individuals from entering the country. We cannot, and will never allow, any Ebola cases to enter the United States.
The United States plan to build quarantine facilities in Kenya has sparked strong outrage among local people. In a statement issued last week, Davji Atellah, representing the unions of medical professionals, pharmacists, and dentists in Kenya, said that their organization will never sit by and allow Kenya to be treated as a quarantine colony.
If this is too dangerous for the United States, then its equally dangerous for Kenya, he said.
After a petition was submitted by the Kenyan non-profit organization Katiba Institute, the Kenyan High Court issued a temporary injunction last week, suspending the construction of this facility. It also prohibited anyone who had been exposed to the Ebola virus from entering the country. The organization stated that the arrangements made between the Kenyan government and the United States regarding this facility have raised serious concerns regarding public health, national governance, and sovereignty issues.
The Deputy Secretary of State for Foreign Aid, Humanitarian Affairs, and Religious Freedom, Jeremy Lewis, stated that the U.S. government is in communication with the Kenyan government and is optimistic about finding a solution to this issue.
On June 2nd, local time, Kenyan President William Ruto defended the plan, asserting that it was being politicized and that it was an essential part of the countrys health emergency preparedness system. The sole purpose of taking these measures is to maintain public health safety and to enhance our ability to effectively respond to sudden health incidents, he said.
However, Patricia Nyaundi, a judge from the Kenyan High Court, not only ruled that the Kenyan government should not proceed with the plan any further, but also ordered the government to make public all the agreements related to this facility within seven days. It is reported that the next hearing in this case will take place on June 23.
Nenuki is an agricultural town with a population of over 70,000 people. Its location lies almost across the equator, and it is home to a British Army training unit. Nowadays, discussions regarding the proposed isolation facilities are taking place among the worried citizens in local shops, markets, residential buildings, and other public places.
Von Gogno said, President Ruto should completely abandon this plan and close our borders to patients from other countries.
Mullinger said that he is worried that the virus will spread rapidly in Nenuki. Local residents have a lot of physical contact during commercial and social activities. We are very afraid of contracting this disease.
On June 1, 2026, Kenyan citizens held demonstrations against the United States plan to establish Ebola isolation facilities at local air bases. Protesters shouted slogans opposing the Ebola facilities and gathered at the entrance of Liki Pia Air Base, demanding that the government completely cancel such plans. IC Photo
Street food vendor Fauzia Isiche said that if the Ebola virus spreads to local communities, she fears that curfews or lockdowns will be imposed again, just as they were during the COVID-19 pandemic. This would disrupt her business and prevent her from being able to support her children. We will die in our own homes, she said.
At Legipia Air Force Base, there is a elementary school and a middle school. Many people are also worried that the spread of the virus could affect the students. Masegger said, My grandchildren are there every day. We dont want anything to go wrong.
It is important to return only the English translation; Purity Kendi, a businessman who lives and works near the Liki Pia Air Force Base, said she felt betrayed by the Kenyan government. We expected our leaders to protect us, but their actions show that they dont care at all about us. She called on Kenyans across the country to unite and oppose this plan together. We have no other countries to go to.
Public information indicates that Ebola is a serious and often deadly human disease. There are three different viruses known to cause large-scale Ebola outbreaks: Ebola virus, Sudan virus, and Bundibujjo virus.
The average mortality rate for Ebola disease is approximately 50%. In previous outbreaks, the mortality rate varied from 25% to 90%. The vaccines and treatment methods that have been approved so far are only applicable to one type of virusthe Ebola virus. Vaccines and treatment methods targeting other viruses are still under development.
The incubation period for this disease ranges from 2 to 21 days, from when someone is infected until symptoms appear. Symptoms of Ebola can occur suddenly, including fever, fatigue, discomfort, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat. Subsequently, symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, rashes, as well as damage to the kidneys and liver may occur. Effects on the central nervous system can lead to confusion, irritability, and aggression.
