Kenya High Court Suspends US Plan To Open EBOLA Quarantine Centre.

Nairobi; May 2026: Kenyan High Court has ordered the ​temporary suspension for the plans of the United States to set up an Ebola quarantine facility in ​the ‌country, after a rights group has challenged the plan.

The White House in a statement issued yesterday (Friday -29th May 2026), have said that the US was setting up a facility in ‌Kenya to quarantine its citizens who had been exposed to ​Ebola, and that it would not bring them home if they develop symptoms, but would send them ​to a third country instead.

The US-built facility, located at the East African country’s Laikipia Air Base, was due to open yesterday (Friday – 29th May) to “quarantine American citizens who may have been exposed to the Bundibugyo variant of the Ebola virus”. The centre will have 50 isolation beds and is to be managed by US medical staff and technicians currently en route to Kenya, the statement added.

But yesterday on 29th May 2026, High Court Judge Patricia Nyaundi ⁠ordered the plans to be suspended after Kenyan rights group the Katiba Institute challenging the plan in court on 28th May 2026.

KATIBA INSTITUTE’S CHALLENGE –

Katiba Institute (KI) is challenging the proposed establishment of a quarantine facility for American citizens exposed to Ebola and other highly infectious diseases in Kenya. The petition, through Counsel Joshua Malidzo, has been filed under a certificate of urgency. It is brought against the Attorney-General, (1st Respondent) and the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Health (2nd Respondent). 

To ensure transparency, accountability, and court oversight before a final determination is made, KI is asking the Court to urgently: 

Halt Facility Operations: Restrain the Respondents from establishing, operationalizing, or approving any Ebola quarantine or treatment facility in Kenya under any arrangement with the United States or other foreign governments, pending the hearing and determination of the matter.

Prevent Entry of Exposed Persons: Bar the Respondents and their agents from receiving, transferring, or facilitating the entry into Kenya of any individuals exposed or infected with Ebola under the impugned arrangement. 

Compel Contingency Planning: Require the Cabinet Secretary for Health to prepare and present to the Court, within 24 hours, a comprehensive contingency plan detailing Kenya’s preparedness measures for the prevention, surveillance, control, and response to any potential Ebola outbreak.

Mandate Full Disclosure: Compel the Respondents to disclose to KI and the public the full terms for any arrangements or negotiations regarding the proposed facility. This includes all related public health, environmental, biosafety, or security assessments; regulatory and parliamentary approvals; and the specific protocols for the admission and treatment of exposed persons. 

The case affirms that even in matters of diplomacy and public health, the Constitution remains supreme and binding on all State organs. The secretive, unilateral establishment of an Ebola quarantine facility raises grave constitutional concerns regarding the rights to life, health, fair administrative action, public participation, and parliamentary oversight. 

“KI is asking the Court to determine whether the Executive can expose the public to such significant risks without complying with constitutional safeguards. At its core, the case is about preserving constitutional accountability, protecting public health, and ensuring that no government may place expediency above the lives and safety of the people of Kenya” – Nora Mbagathi, Executive Director, Katiba Institute.

Judge Patricia Nyaundi ⁠in her observation has reiterated that Kenya was ‌not allowed to admit anyone exposed to ⁠or infected by Ebola under the planned agreement with the US, until ​a case challenging the deal ‌was heard and determined. The ⁠next hearing for the case will be on 02nd June, Nyaundi said ​in her order.

A source close to the matter told media reporters that the decision to set up the facility was taken last week. However, the US and Kenya had disagreed over who should be admitted – Nairobi favoured opening the centre to all nationalities, whereas the White House wanted access restricted to American citizens.

Team Maverick.