Kenyan health minister found in contempt over US Ebola quarantine site
Justice Patricia Nyaundi Mande states minister’s actions rendered court directives “hollow” as sentencing looms
Kenya’s High Court has found Health Minister Aden Duale in contempt of court for proceeding with the construction of a quarantine facility designated for United States nationals, in direct violation of multiple judicial orders to cease work. Justice Patricia Nyaundi Mande ruled on Monday that the minister’s decision to commission construction activities at the Laikipia Air Base near Nanyuki rendered previous court directives “hollow.”
The facility was intended to house US citizens exposed to Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. However, the project sparked significant public backlash and protests from civil society groups and healthcare workers, who argued the site threatened Kenya’s health system and was developed without adequate consultation or regulatory transparency.
Justice Mande noted that construction activities continued despite orders issued in late May and early June. “The Court cannot permit its orders to be rendered hollow,” she wrote, citing the minister’s defiance of judicial authority. The court’s intervention followed complaints from the Katiba Institute, a rights group that demanded details on health assessments, biosafety protocols, and operational frameworks for the proposed centre.
Despite the judicial rulings, Minister Duale had insisted to parliament earlier in the month that the government “will not stop” the facility. President William Ruto previously defended the agreement, stating he authorised the site because it represented a partnership with long-standing allies who have supported Kenya for decades. The US contribution of $13.5 million for Ebola preparedness has been criticised by some civilians and medical professionals as an attempt to “whitewash” the deal.
Duale is due to appear in court on Tuesday for mitigation and sentencing. Contempt of court in Kenya carries a maximum penalty of 200,000 shillings ($1,500) and/or six months in jail. The controversy arises against the backdrop of an Ebola outbreak in the DRC, which the World Health Organization reports has resulted in 896 confirmed cases and at least 232 deaths as of June 17. Uganda has also reported 19 confirmed cases, including two deaths.
