Kenya Must Reject Proposed US-Kenya Ebola Deal, Activist Argues
A Kenyan activist and commentator, Joseph Barasa, has called on citizens, lawmakers and civil society groups to oppose a proposed arrangement that would allow the establishment of an Ebola quarantine and treatment facility at Laikipia Airbase.
In an opinion article published on Saturday, Barasa described the plan as a serious threat to public health and national security, arguing that Kenya should not be used as a treatment hub for American citizens suspected of contracting Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to him, it is difficult to justify why the United States would transport suspected Ebola patients to Kenya instead of treating them within its own territory, despite having one of the world’s most advanced healthcare systems.
Barasa questioned the rationale behind moving patients across international borders when treatment and monitoring could be conducted closer to the outbreak source in the DRC.
He warned that bringing Ebola patients into a country that has remained free of the disease could expose millions of Kenyans to unnecessary risks, particularly through interactions involving healthcare workers and support personnel.
The commentator cited previous Ebola outbreaks in the DRC, noting that hundreds of health workers had been infected or killed while responding to the disease. He argued that Kenya should learn from those experiences rather than assume it would be immune to similar challenges.
Barasa also criticized remarks by Kenya’s Health Cabinet Secretary, Aden Duale, who defended the arrangement by pointing to Kenya’s military presence in the DRC. The writer maintained that peacekeeping operations and the deliberate transfer of Ebola patients into Kenya are fundamentally different issues.
He further accused authorities of disregarding a court injunction reportedly issued by the High Court to halt the project, claiming that construction activities have continued despite legal challenges.
The controversy has triggered protests in Laikipia, where residents have expressed concerns about the potential health implications of hosting such a facility.
Barasa urged Parliament to investigate the matter, called on civil society groups to pursue legal action, and appealed to Kenyans to unite against the proposal.
He concluded that Kenya’s healthcare system remains under pressure from existing challenges and should not take on what he described as an avoidable public health risk.
