High Court Halts Kenya-U.S. Ebola Quarantine Deal as Judge Bars Entry of Exposed Persons
The High Court in Nairobi has temporarily suspended the establishment of a controversial U.S.-linked Ebola quarantine facility in Kenya, dealing a major blow to plans backed by President William Ruto’s administration.
The court issued conservatory orders on Thursday restraining the government and any foreign agency from establishing, approving, operationalising, or facilitating an Ebola exposure, quarantine, isolation, or treatment centre in the country pending the hearing and determination of a constitutional petition.
The decision followed an urgent application filed by the Katiba Institute, which argued that the proposed arrangement posed significant constitutional, public health, and national security concerns.
In her ruling, Justice Patricia Nyaundi barred the government from proceeding with the project and further prohibited the admission, transfer, or receipt of any persons exposed to or infected with Ebola under the reported agreement between Kenya and the United States.
“Upon reading the Notice of Motion dated May 28, 2026, a conservatory order is hereby issued restraining the respondents from establishing, operationalising, facilitating, approving establishment of any Ebola exposure, quarantine, isolation or treatment facility in Kenya,” the court directed.
The judge further ordered that no individual exposed to or infected with Ebola should be admitted into Kenya under the proposed framework until the matter is fully heard and determined.
The petitioners argued that allowing the facility to proceed before judicial review would expose Kenyans to an imminent risk and potentially violate constitutional safeguards relating to public participation, health rights, and national sovereignty.
According to court documents, Katiba Institute sought orders preventing the government from establishing or approving any Ebola quarantine or treatment centre under a foreign arrangement. The lobby group also asked the court to stop the transfer or admission of Ebola-exposed persons into Kenya under the reported agreement with the United States.
Justice Nyaundi certified the case as urgent and directed the respondents to file their responses within 48 hours of being served. The Katiba Institute was granted leave to file a supplementary affidavit within one day of receiving those responses.
The matter is scheduled for mention on June 2, 2026.
The court also warned that any person, institution, or government agency found violating the conservatory orders would face penal consequences for contempt of court.
The ruling comes only hours after reports emerged that the Kenyan government had approved the establishment of an Ebola quarantine facility in Laikipia County as part of a joint preparedness programme supported by the United States.
Under the reported arrangement, the U.S. government had committed approximately KSh1.7 billion towards strengthening Kenya’s Ebola preparedness and emergency response capabilities.
The facility was expected to become operational within a week, beginning with a 50-bed field hospital and featuring expansion capacity of up to 250 beds should the need arise.
Reports further indicated that personnel from the U.S. Public Health Service were expected to staff the centre, with teams reportedly undergoing specialised training at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland ahead of deployment.
However, the future of the project now hangs in the balance as the High Court prepares to determine whether the proposed arrangement complies with Kenya’s Constitution and public health laws.
The case is expected to attract intense public and political scrutiny, given growing concerns over Kenya’s role in international disease response programmes and the potential implications for national health security.