In brief
Kenya's Health Minister Aden Duale has halted the construction of a 50‑bed Ebola quarantine centre after appearing in court and apologising for ignoring a judge's order. The court had earlier ruled that building should stop until a rights‑group case could be heard, and Duale faced contempt of court for ignoring the ruling. Protests in Nanyuki turned violent, killing three people, including a 17‑year‑old schoolboy. The U.S. is providing aid to support Kenya's Ebola preparedness, while the Kenyan government faces criticism from medical unions that Kenya has been chosen as a "containment colony".
Aden Duale, the Health Minister of Kenya, has stopped the construction of a controversial 50‑bed Ebola quarantine facility that was supported by the United States, after facing contempt of court.
After appearing in court, the minister apologized and ordered the immediate cessation of work at the military base in Nanyuki.
The court had earlier ruled that the construction should halt until a rights‑group case could be heard. Duale had ignored the order, leading to contempt of court.
Protests in Nanyuki turned violent, claiming police used excessive force and killing three people, including 17‑year‑old Sylvester Muigai Ndung'u.
The site, located at a military airbase, was deemed safe, but a major health union criticized Kenya as a “containment colony” for a pathogen it did not create.
US aid includes $13.5m for Kenyan Ebola preparedness, part of a $112m regional response to the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
President William Ruto defended the plan, arguing that refusing the U.S. request would be “inhuman” and that the government should not politicise the issue.
