A man has reportedly been shot during protests in the Kenyan town of Nanyuki against plans to establish a quarantine centre for US citizens affected by Ebola at a nearby military base.
Witnesses told journalists that the shooting occurred as demonstrators clashed with police during a protest demanding the cancellation of the project. A protest leader told Reuters that the victim was killed by police gunfire, although authorities had not commented on the allegation at the time of reporting.
The demonstration saw protesters carrying Kenyan flags, placards and a symbolic coffin marked “Ebola” as they marched through the town. Police responded by firing tear gas to disperse the crowds, leading to confrontations between protesters and security personnel.
According to AFP, journalists on the scene heard gunshots and later saw a man lying motionless after reportedly sustaining a gunshot wound to the head. Reuters also reported that two of its journalists saw the man’s body in the back of a police vehicle, although they did not witness the actual shooting.
The latest incident comes less than a week after two people were reportedly killed during similar demonstrations in Nanyuki, a town located about 200 kilometres north of Nairobi.
Public opposition to the proposed facility has continued to grow amid concerns about possible health risks and what critics describe as a lack of transparency from the government regarding the project. Protesters argue that local communities have not been adequately consulted.
One demonstrator, Priscilla Imani, said the proposal had already negatively affected the area, with some people avoiding visits to Nanyuki and the wider Laikipia region because of fears surrounding Ebola.
“My message is this, Laikipia is not a dumping site and our voices must be heard,” she said.
The planned 50-bed isolation centre is intended to treat American citizens affected by the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The facility would be staffed by US medical personnel and located at the Laikipia Airbase.
A US official previously explained that Kenya was selected because of its proximity to the outbreak zone and because airports closer to the affected region lacked sufficient capacity to support emergency medical operations.
The Ebola outbreak in DR Congo has recorded around 600 confirmed cases and approximately 100 deaths. Kenya, however, has not reported any Ebola infections.
Last month, a Kenyan court ordered the suspension of the project after a rights organisation filed a case arguing that the facility posed serious public health risks. Despite the court order, satellite images reportedly show that construction activities have continued at the military base.
President William Ruto has defended the agreement, stating that the United States requested Kenya’s assistance and that refusing to help would have been inhumane. He has also urged citizens not to politicise the Ebola issue and warned politicians against making what he described as reckless statements.
Meanwhile, US officials have indicated they remain hopeful that concerns surrounding the project can be resolved through ongoing discussions with Kenyan authorities.