Kenyan Health Minister Aden Duale has officially ordered a stop to all construction at a US-funded Ebola quarantine facility in Nanyuki, just one day after a High Court judge found him in contempt for ignoring a previous injunction.
The facility, intended to host American citizens exposed to the virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been a flashpoint for local protests and legal challenges.
Despite the government’s insistence that the project was a necessary strategic intervention, Judge Patricia Nyaundi made it clear that court orders are not suggestions, stating that the government cannot simply recast or re-characterize its actions to bypass the law.
The project has faced intense scrutiny from local activists and medical unions, who argue that Kenya should not be used as a containment zone for foreign health crises.
While the government maintains that the military base location ensures safety, the situation on the ground turned violent during protests, resulting in three deaths, including a 17-year-old boy. Minister Duale, who issued an apology to the court, now faces a stern warning as the project remains stalled.
President William Ruto had previously defended the initiative as a humanitarian obligation to the United States, but the legal and social backlash has forced a temporary retreat on the $13.5 million effort.
Tags
