Equipment for Laikipia Ebola quarantine facility jets in from US

A health worker stands in a new Ebola treatment centre in Bunia, in the north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, May 31, 2026. [AFP]

It is emerging that the planned Ebola quarantine centre in Laikipia is being activated, with assorted equipment and experts from the United States having arrived in the country.

At least 20 flights carrying medical equipment and specialised staff are reported to have landed at Laikipia Airbase on Wednesday.

According to Reuters, the planes allegedly brought in technical equipment and dozens of physicians, engineers, laboratory experts and construction workers.

This is as per the data from flight-tracking service Flightradar24.

The flight tracking service, according to the publication, showed at least six military aircraft, including C-130 and C-17 transport planes, had landed in Nanyuki since May 24, with three landing after the court order.

Initially, the White House announced the quarantine facility inside the military would be manned by US-trained experts.

The US State Secretary Marco Rubio also announced that the facility would only serve Americans exposed to the virus.

Construction and equipping of the facility are ongoing despite it having been stopped by the High Court of Kenya, with a hearing of the case set for Monday, June 29, 2026.

Prior to transportation of the equipment and experts to Kenya, the US flights to Kenya were allegedly forced to stop, in fear of the case outcome.

But they resumed travel after getting a signal from the Kenyan government to continue.

The US government also noted that it was aware of the court case and was working with the Kenyan government to resolve the objection.

Arrival of the equipment and experts was reported a day after Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale told Parliament that the government does not require public participation and consultation to set up the facility.

“We shall not consult. This epidemic doesn’t require any consultation. Before Kenyans die, as a government, we have a responsibility to protect Kenyans and non-Kenyans within our borders or in transit within our country,” said Duale.

Duale said Kenya was dealing with a very abnormal situation that required a quick public health response.

Laikipia, he said, is one of the 23 isolation centres the Kenyan government is setting up, and its establishment will not stop despite the opposition.

“Laikipia Airbase is one of 23 isolation centres we are building, and we will not stop it,” Duale told MPs.

The CS took issue with MPs and Kenyans opposing the setting up of the facility.

“If every county refuses, where shall we put Kenyans? In the air? We can still create another isolation centre in one of our barracks, in any place. It is good for our country,” maintained the CS.

Duale said the facility will jointly be run by the Kenyan and US governments under the command of the Kenya Air Force Base commander and the Ministry of Health.

Yesterday, President William Ruto also told journalists during his State visit to South Africa that the Kenyan government was doing the right thing by setting up the facility.

“I can tell you without fear of any contradiction, and I can look at everybody in the eye, and tell you we are doing the right thing,” President Ruto told journalists, as reported by Reuters.

Reuters reported that President Ruto said it would be inhuman not to allow the US to set up the facility.

“It would be the most unfortunate if, on one request by the Americans to set up a facility at their cost, we refused; we would look very inhuman,” he added.

However, no patient or suspected case has been admitted to the facility.

It remains unclear whether the facility shall only admit suspected cases, or even Ebola-confirmed cases, for treatment.