Kenyan minister found in contempt of court over US‑backed Ebola centre

Kenya’s Health Minister Aden Duale has been found guilty of contempt of court after he ignored an order that halted the construction of a 50‑bed Ebola quarantine facility in Nanyuki. The facility, funded by the United States, is intended for U.S. citizens suspected of Ebola from the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The High Court had suspended the construction last month while it heard a petition from the Katiba Institute, a rights group that cautioned against the project’s public‑health risks. Analysts note that the order was issued before several local protests erupted, in which police were accused of using excessive force and three people were killed, including 17‑year‑old student Sylvester Muigai Ndungó.

In court, the judge said the government could not simply re‑characterise the ongoing work to evade the order, emphasizing that it was a direct command and not a suggestion. Justice Patricia Nyaundi noted that Duale was fully aware that construction had to stop, but allowed the work to proceed.

President William Ruto defended the centre, arguing it was a response to a request from the U.S. and that refusing would be “inhuman.” He urged Kenyan politicians to avoid politicising a serious disease, calling for unity in the fight against Ebola.

The U.S. government has pledged $13.5 million to fund Kenya’s Ebola preparedness and a broader $112 million commitment for the regional response. Kenya remains precautionary, reporting no confirmed cases of Ebola as of the day of the verdict, though the Democratic Republic of Congo has over 1,000 confirmed cases and Uganda 20.

The case underscores ongoing tensions over public‑health decision‑making in the region. While some view the quarantine centre as vital for protecting both local residents and potential international risk, others criticize it as an unjust imposition on Kenyan soil, prompting calls from the Kenya Medical Practitioners & Dentists Union for accountability and consent.

The trial is scheduled to conclude on Tuesday, with sentencing pending. The outcome will signal how Kenya navigates international funding for pandemic readiness while maintaining compliance with its own judicial processes.

Related: High Court halts building of emergency Ebola isolation centre