Kenya protests: ‘This will expose our people to Ebola’: Kenya holds massive protests against quarantine centers for affected US citizens

Hundreds of young people marched to Kenya’s Laikipia Air Force Base on Monday to protest plans to build an Ebola quarantine center for U.S. citizens exposed to the virus.The demonstrations in the central town of Nanyuki came two days after Kenya’s High Court suspended the establishment of the facility and banned the entry of any foreign patients, pending a hearing in a case brought by the Kenya Bar Association and a constitutional watchdog, the Associated Press reported.The petitioners argue that Kenya’s health care system remains too fragile to accommodate foreign Ebola patients. The court order follows reports that the United States plans to send Americans who have been exposed to Ebola abroad to a new quarantine facility in Kenya rather than transporting them back to the United States.The facility will be located at Laikipia Air Base and is expected to have 50 isolation beds, according to U.S. officials. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss government plans.On Monday, protesters marched to the gates of the air force base, chanting anti-Ebola slogans and opposing the proposed facility.Kenyan Health Minister Aden Duale said on Sunday that the quarantine center was set up for “everyone” and not specifically for U.S. citizens.Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington plans to donate $13.5 million to Kenya’s Ebola preparedness efforts.The proposal was also opposed by local leaders. Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu said he opposed the establishment of quarantine centres, warning it could expose local residents to the virus.“This is going to expose our people to Ebola,” he said, adding that many residents work on the air base and could be at risk of potential exposure.Kenya has not yet recorded any Ebola cases. However, neighboring Uganda reported nine cases and closed its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.Congo has reported at least 282 confirmed cases of Ebola and more than 1,000 suspected cases related to the Bundibugyo strain, the report said. There are currently no approved treatments or vaccines.