Police detain demonstrators in Kenya over American Ebola facility

In the Ituri Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, volunteers from the local Red Cross, donning personal protective equipment, carefully transported the casket of an Ebola victim from the morgue of the Rwampara health centre to a vehicle on June 8, 2026, as part of a safe and dignified burial operation to prevent the spread of the virus.

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The head of the World Health Organization paid a visit to Uganda on Monday, commending the country's efforts to contain the spread of the Ebola outbreak from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, which has been declared an international health emergency.

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The Ebola outbreak in the DRC has resulted in 515 confirmed infections, including 91 deaths, since its announcement on May 15 in northeastern DRC, with Uganda recording 19 cases and two deaths, the majority of which are Congolese nationals who crossed the border.

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Tensions rose in Kenya on Tuesday as several Kenyans were arrested during protests against the construction of an Ebola quarantine centre for US citizens in the tourist town of Nanyuki, near Laikipia Air Base, under the shadow of Mount Kenya.

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The centre, intended to quarantine Americans arriving from the DRC, has sparked opposition among locals, who are concerned about the risk of introducing the highly contagious disease into a country that has never recorded an Ebola case.

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Dozens of protesters gathered near the air base, some wearing protective equipment and carrying a coffin labelled "Ebola", while others were arrested by police, who also fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.

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Zipporah Wachira, a 30-year-old protester, expressed her concerns, stating "We don't have that disease in this country… they are bringing a virus into our country".

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The quarantine centre, which will have 50 isolation beds and be managed by US staff, was nearing completion last week, but its construction has been opposed by local politicians and sparked protests as early as June 1.

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Despite the opposition, the government of President William Ruto has vowed to proceed with the project, citing the country's obligation to the US for its years of aid support, with Ruto stating "The American people and government have been partners with us on matters of health for close to 25-30 years".

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President Ruto emphasized that refusing the US request to set up the facility would be "most unfortunate" and "inhuman", given the long-standing partnership between the two countries.

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Kenya's health minister has assured that the facility will cater to both Kenyans and Americans, while Washington has pledged $13.5 million to support Kenya's Ebola preparedness efforts.

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The deal follows a controversial health agreement between the two countries last year, in which Kenya agreed to share vast amounts of health data with the US in exchange for billions of dollars in aid.

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The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak in the DRC an international health emergency, with 515 confirmed infections and 91 deaths reported, and despite fears of spread to neighbouring countries, only Uganda has recorded cases, with 19 confirmed so far.