Laikipia County Members of Parliament have collectively opposed the government’s proposal to establish an Ebola virus quarantine facility within their jurisdiction, voicing concerns about transparency, site selection, and potential impacts on public safety.
Through a joint statement issued on Friday, May 29, the legislators highlighted apprehension regarding government plans to establish the facility in Laikipia County, noting that the decision had not been adequately communicated to local authorities and community members.
The MPs indicated that they were not consulted prior to the decision-making process, prompting questions about the methodology used by authorities in selecting Laikipia as the facility location.
The lawmakers expressed that “our collective conscience is deeply troubled by reports indicating the Government of Kenya’s intention to establish an Ebola Quarantine and Treatment Facility in Laikipia County.”
They inquired why Laikipia was being considered as the proposed site and whether alternative options, such as managing Ebola cases at the outbreak’s origin in the Democratic Republic of Congo, had been thoroughly assessed.
The legislators posed the question, “Why not establish the facility at the outbreak’s epicenter (the Democratic Republic of Congo – DRC) for enhanced, rapid, and more effective management?”
Simultaneously, the lawmakers voiced concerns about what they termed insufficient transparency in the proposed arrangement, questioning why complete details of the plan had not been disclosed to all stakeholders.
The statement queried, “Why is the government not providing complete transparency regarding its intentions? Why Laikipia?”
This development occurs amidst public controversy surrounding the proposed facility, which was announced by President William Ruto for construction at the Nanyuki airbase in Laikipia.
Notwithstanding reports indicating that the government was poised to receive more than Ksh1.7 billion from the U.S. government for the facility, the court, on Friday, May 28, ruled on a case filed by the Katiba Institute.
Following the court ruling, a specialized Ebola response team was deployed to Kenya to assist citizens who would be accommodated in the quarantine facility.
As reported by CNN, U.S. authorities have verified the deployment, describing it as a collaborative initiative involving the U.S. State Department and the Department of Defense to ensure the safe repatriation and monitoring of American citizens potentially exposed to the virus.
While the partnership between Kenya and the U.S. faces controversy, the country has yet to report any cases of the virus outbreak, with the Ministry of Health enhancing surveillance measures at airports and border crossings to prevent potential spread.