Two shot dead amid protests against US Ebola treatment centre in Kenya

Two people have been shot dead in the Kenyan town of Nanyuki during protests against plans by the United States to establish an Ebola isolation centre at the nearby Laikipia Airbase in Kenya. 

The deaths occurred as demonstrations broke out over concerns surrounding the proposed facility, which is intended to treat US citizens affected by the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

According to information obtained by the BBC, one of the victims was shot near the Laikipia Airbase, where protesters had gathered, and later died after friends took him to a hospital in Nanyuki.

The second victim was already dead when soldiers brought him to the same hospital.

Authorities have not officially commented on the deaths, and the circumstances surrounding both incidents remain unclear. 

A police spokesman told Reuters he was not aware of any fatalities linked to the protests.

Community leader Patrick Wahome said one of the victims was shot while he “was heading home after closing his business”.

The BBC reported that both bodies are being held at the hospital morgue and appear to have gunshot wounds, one in the chest and the other on the shoulder.

Hundreds of residents took part in demonstrations on Monday, marching through Nanyuki, blocking roads and burning tyres. Police responded by firing tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Public concern has centred on the proposed Kenya Ebola isolation centre and fears about possible health risks associated with treating Ebola patients in the country.

The planned 50-bed facility would be staffed by US medical personnel and located at the Laikipia Airbase. Its purpose is to provide treatment for American citizens affected by the Ebola outbreak in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

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Meanwhile, Kenya has not recorded any Ebola cases. Last Friday, the High Court ordered that plans for the facility be halted after a rights group filed a case claiming the project posed “grave and imminent risks” to public health.

On Tuesday, the court extended the suspension and directed the government to disclose more information about the proposed facility.

Despite the court order, military aircraft have reportedly continued flying in and out of the airbase. Experts cited by the BBC said the activity suggests preparations may still be ongoing.

President William Ruto addressed the issue publicly on Monday evening, defending the proposed Kenya Ebola isolation centre and assuring citizens that safety measures were in place.

He said Kenya had “deployed every arsenal” to protect the country from the virus.

According to the president, the US government requested Kenya’s assistance in managing the Ebola outbreak.

“When President [Donald] Trump asked Kenya to support them by having a centre in Laikipia Airbase, I gave the ok because it was an agreement with friends who have walked with Kenya for 30, 40 years,” he said.

President Ruto also urged Kenyans not to turn the issue into a political debate, calling on citizens and political leaders not to politicise a matter “so serious” as Ebola and warned against “reckless” statements.

“We are a responsible government. We know what we are doing,” he added.

The proposed Kenya Ebola isolation centre has also faced opposition from the country’s doctors’ union and government watchdog organisations.

Critics argue that the facility could expose local communities to health risks and have called for greater transparency from authorities regarding the project’s implementation.

As legal proceedings continue, questions remain over the future of the facility and how the government plans to address public concerns while maintaining its cooperation with the United States.

(BBC)