Tensions high at protest outside Kenya's Ebola quarantine center for US citizens

(1 Jun 2026) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Nanyuki, Kenya - 1 June 2026 1. Various of lit up fires in Nanyuki during protest against the construction of an Ebola quarantine centre 2. Various of protesters and security 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Susan Wangari, resident of Laikipia county: "We want to tell the president, he cannot be making such a decision to people of Kenya without even considering what will be the effect of what they are doing. We feel like we are being short changed because they didn't even come for public participation. Everything that affect the people should come for public participation, so we the people who are surrounding this area and specifically Laikipia, we reject with the strongest terms the building of quarantine facility in Laikipia county." 4. Various of protesters 5. Mid of security officers 6. SOUNDBITE (English) Malin Ndegwa, resident of Laikipia county: "Today we are told there is an Ebola quarantine facility being built in Nanyuki for white people, only for Americans. Who makes these decisions? Who does this government represent? Who does this government represent? Today is Madaraka day. Today here the military is protecting an American, white people quarantine facility in a country that we don't have any Ebola. We don't have any history of Ebola here. Why are they not doing it in the DRC? Why are they not doing it in Uganda? Why must they bring it here? So we are saying, we categorically, no negotiations, no public participation, we want nothing. We want that facility taken out of our town, we want it taken out of Kenya." 7. Various of security officers STORYLINE: Hundreds of people in Kenya’s central town of Nanyuki on Monday demonstrated against the establishment at the Laikipia Air Base of an Ebola quarantine center for American citizens exposed to the virus. The protests come two days after Kenya’s High Court suspended the establishment of the facility and the arrival of any foreign patients pending the hearing of a case filed by the Law Society of Kenya and a constitutional watchdog. The two organizations cited Kenya’s fragile health system as the reason why foreign Ebola patients should not be quarantined in the country. U.S. officials said Thursday that the United States was planning to send Americans exposed to Ebola while abroad to a new facility in Kenya instead of flying them home. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the administration’s plans. They said the facility would be at Laikipia Air Base and would be operational with 50 quarantine beds by Friday. On Monday, hundreds of people marched to the gates of the air base, chanting anti-Ebola slogans. Health Minister Aden Duale on Sunday said the quarantine center was for “everyone” and not exclusively for U.S. nationals. The U.S. government intends to commit $13.5 million toward Kenya’s Ebola preparedness efforts, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement. Local leaders, including Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu, had told journalists that they were opposed to the establishment of an Ebola quarantine center. The protesters were firm in their messaging. "We reject with the strongest terms the building of quarantine facility in Laikipia county," said Susan Wangari. "Who makes these decisions? Who does this government represent?" asked an irate Malin Ndegwa. Kenya has not recorded Ebola cases, but neighboring Uganda has reported nine and closed its border with Congo. AP Video shot by Josephat Kasire Production: Zelipha Kirobi =========================================================== Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...