Kenya's Health Minister Aden Duale was found in contempt of court for defying orders to halt construction of a US-backed Ebola isolation facility. He has since ordered the suspension of construction.
The case highlights tensions between public health preparedness, international cooperation, and domestic legal and public concerns regarding the handling of infectious disease facilities.
Kenya's Health Minister Aden Duale has been found in contempt of court for defying orders to halt the construction of a controversial US-backed Ebola isolation facility. Judge Patricia Nyaundi ruled that construction had continued despite a previous High Court order to suspend the project at Laikipia Air Base, near Nanyuki. Duale has since ordered the immediate and complete cessation of construction and related activities pending the outcome of a legal challenge.
The facility, intended to house US citizens exposed to Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other affected countries, has generated significant opposition. Critics argue the government initiated the project without sufficient public consultation and question why Kenya should host such a center. The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union stated it would not allow Kenya to be treated as a "containment colony." Public anger over the project led to demonstrations, with accusations of excessive police force and at least three deaths during protests.
Duale apologized to the court, denying intentional defiance and stating he would be the last person to disobey a court order. The government had argued that the court order applied only to the partnership with the United States, not broader Ebola preparedness measures, an interpretation the court rejected.
The U.S. government intends to commit $13.5 million toward Kenya’s Ebola preparedness efforts. Duale defended the quarantine center, saying concerns that it posed a threat to local residents were unfounded.