Two people have reportedly been shot dead in the central Kenyan town of Nanyuki amid protests against US plans to establish an Ebola isolation centre at a nearby military base, the BBC has learnt.
One of the victims was shot in an area near the Laikipia Airbase, where a demonstration was taking place. He later died after being rushed to the town’s hospital by friends. The second victim was already dead when soldiers brought him to the same hospital.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain unclear, and officials have not yet commented on the matter.
On Monday, hundreds of demonstrators marched through the streets of Nanyuki, blocking roads and burning tyres, as police fired tear gas to disperse the crowds.
The US plan to establish an Ebola treatment facility in Kenya has sparked public concern over possible cross-border infection risks.
The proposed 50-bed isolation centre is expected to be staffed by US medics and would treat American citizens affected by the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kenya has not recorded any Ebola cases so far.
Last Friday, the High Court ordered a halt to the opening of the centre after a rights group filed a case alleging that the facility posed “grave and imminent risks” to public health.
Speaking publicly about the issue for the first time on Monday evening, President William Ruto defended the plan, saying Kenya had “deployed every arsenal” to protect the country.
He told journalists that the US government had requested Kenya’s support in handling the virus outbreak, a request he promptly accepted, describing it as a “mutual agreement”.
“When President [Donald] Trump asked Kenya to support them by having a centre at Laikipia Airbase, I gave the OK because it was an agreement with friends who have stood with Kenya for 30 to 40 years,” he said.
Ruto urged Kenyans not to politicise such a serious matter, calling on politicians to avoid “reckless” statements about Ebola.
“We are a responsible government. We know what we are doing,” he added.
On Tuesday, the High Court extended the suspension order and directed the government to disclose details of the proposed Ebola facility.
Military aircraft have reportedly continued flying in and out of the airbase in what experts describe as ongoing preparations despite the court order.
Kenya’s doctors’ union and government watchdogs have opposed the plan, arguing that it could expose local communities to unnecessary health risks.
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