Two people have reportedly been killed in the Kenyan town of Nanyuki following protests against a proposed United States-funded Ebola isolation facility near a military base in the area.
The deaths occurred as demonstrators took to the streets to oppose plans to establish a 50-bed treatment centre at Laikipia Airbase, about 140 kilometres north of Nairobi. Protesters blocked major roads and set tyres ablaze, prompting police to deploy tear gas in an effort to restore order.
One of the victims has been identified as 27-year-old Charles Mang’aro Mwangi. According to his family, he was not involved in the demonstrations and was simply heading to visit a friend after returning home from work when he was shot. His mother, Joyce Wangari, said her son was not participating in any protest activities and was going about his normal routine when the incident occurred.
A second victim was reportedly brought to a local hospital by soldiers and was already dead upon arrival. Authorities have not released details regarding the circumstances surrounding either death, although reports indicate both bodies bore gunshot wounds.
Kenyan authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the fatalities. A police spokesperson told reporters he was unaware of any deaths linked to the protests.
The planned Ebola isolation centre has generated significant public concern, with critics arguing that hosting patients from the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo could expose local communities to health risks. The facility is expected to be staffed by American medical personnel and would be used to treat US citizens affected by the outbreak.
US officials have defended the proposal, saying Kenya was selected because of its strategic location and limited regional alternatives for specialised treatment. They also stated that no American patients are currently scheduled for transfer to the facility.
The controversy has intensified after Kenya’s High Court temporarily halted the project following a legal challenge from a rights group. The court has since extended the suspension and ordered the government to provide full details of the agreement and the proposed facility.
President William Ruto has defended the arrangement, describing it as a partnership between Kenya and the United States. He said the government had put adequate safeguards in place and urged citizens not to politicise the issue.
Medical organisations and public interest groups continue to oppose the project, warning that it could pose unnecessary risks to the population. Reports that military aircraft have continued operating around the airbase despite the court order have also fuelled public suspicion and criticism.
The incident has heightened tensions around the proposed facility, with investigations into the deaths and the legal dispute over the project expected to continue in the coming weeks.