U.S. Lawmakers Blast Plan to Treat American Ebola Patients in Kenya as Pressure Mounts on Trump Administration
U.S. lawmakers have sharply criticised plans to treat American Ebola patients in Kenya, arguing that Washington should repatriate its citizens instead of relying on a foreign country to shoulder the responsibility.
The criticism came from the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs, which on Tuesday accused the Trump administration of failing to utilise specialised medical facilities already available within the United States.
In a strongly worded statement, the committee insisted that American citizens exposed to or infected with Ebola should be brought home and treated domestically rather than accommodated in a temporary facility proposed for Kenya.
“Our government has a responsibility to help Americans abroad. The U.S. already has domestic facilities specifically designed to safely care for Ebola patients. The Trump administration should bring Americans home and help them, not outsource that responsibility to a foreign government,” the committee said.
The lawmakers also urged both the U.S. and Kenyan governments to take seriously concerns raised by civil society organisations regarding the proposed Ebola treatment and quarantine facility.
The remarks come amid growing controversy over a plan by the U.S. military to establish a temporary Ebola isolation centre at the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Laikipia Air Base.
The facility, which was to be funded by the U.S. government, was intended to house and treat American personnel exposed to or infected with the deadly virus while serving in regions affected by Ebola outbreaks.
However, the proposal has sparked intense debate in Kenya, with critics questioning the potential public health risks, legal implications and sovereignty concerns associated with hosting foreign Ebola patients on Kenyan soil.
The dispute escalated further after Kenya’s High Court temporarily suspended implementation of the project pending the determination of legal challenges brought by opponents of the plan.
Adding to the controversy, reports by CNN suggested that some American personnel had already arrived at Laikipia Air Base before the facility became fully operational, raising fresh questions about the status of the project and the level of public consultation undertaken.
Public anger over the proposal spilled onto the streets of Nanyuki on Monday, where hundreds of residents staged demonstrations against the planned quarantine centre.
Protesters voiced fears over safety and transparency, while activists accused authorities of failing to adequately engage local communities before advancing the project.
Following the demonstrations, the U.S. government issued a travel advisory urging American citizens in Kenya to remain vigilant due to the possibility of further protests in Nanyuki and other urban areas.
The Foreign Affairs Committee also highlighted what it described as a contradiction in Washington’s policy toward Kenya, noting that the Trump administration had previously reduced certain health-related funding programmes while simultaneously seeking Kenya’s cooperation in hosting American Ebola patients.
The controversy is now shaping up as both a diplomatic and political challenge, placing increased scrutiny on the Trump administration’s handling of overseas health emergencies and raising broader questions about international responsibility, public safety and national sovereignty.
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