Two Dead in Nanyuki Ebola Facility Protests

A pair of individuals lost their lives on Monday, June 1, during demonstrations in Nanyuki, where locals opposed the construction of an American-backed Ebola isolation center at Laikipia Air Base.
Patrick Wahome, the organizer of the protest, along with a security official quoted by Reuters, verified the fatalities on Tuesday, June 2.
The exact details leading to the deaths are still unknown, as the National Police Service (NPS) had not released any formal remarks when this report was published.
Initial accounts suggested that a minimum of two individuals sustained severe injuries amid the clashes, sparking concerns that the number of casualties might increase due to the violence.
The local community initiated the demonstrations at approximately 7am, expressing concerns over the health hazards of having the center nearby and questioning why it was being built in Kenya instead of the United States.
Large crowds moved through various sections of the town holding signs and branches, vocalizing their opposition to the planned Ebola center.
While the unrest unfolded, Wahome noted that the crowd wanted the facility entirely shut down by June 9.
The group allegedly tried to enter the premises but was stopped by military personnel, creating a tense two-hour standoff until a high-ranking base official spoke to the gathering and urged for peace.
Footage from the scene captured blazing fires on streets throughout Nanyuki, with heavy smoke covering the sky, while security personnel were observed discharging weapons during the chaos.
Locals from Nanyuki’s Likii neighborhood mentioned that law enforcement was eventually brought in to regain control, with police clearing the roads and accompanying individuals back to their residences around 7pm.
These fatalities occur at a time of intense anxiety and widespread anger, especially since the High Court has paused the construction of the proposed center in Kenya until the Katiba Institute’s legal challenge against the initiative is resolved.
Despite this, President William Ruto has backed the initiative, stating that the pact offers mutual advantages and will enhance the nation’s readiness for future epidemics, while the U.S. has allegedly sent personnel to Kenya to assist in treating, observing, and isolating American nationals coming back from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).