Nanyuki leaders reject proposed Ebola facility

Nanyuki youth leader Marlin Ndegwa, flanked by other leaders, address the media in Nanyuki town, June 4, 2026. [Mose Sammy, Standard]

Activists, community members and grassroots leaders in Nanyuki have rejected remarks by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale suggesting that opposition to the proposed Ebola quarantine facility in Laikipia County is politically instigated, insisting their concerns are rooted in public health, biosecurity and constitutional governance.

The leaders said their objections to the proposed facility have been misrepresented by the government, arguing that the project raises serious questions about public participation, safety and the suitability of its location in a populated urban area. 

CS Duale had dismissed the ongoing protests, terming them politically driven and alleging that some of the demonstrators were “paid, political actors.” He further questioned the timing of the protests, arguing that Ebola outbreaks have occurred under successive administrations without similar public opposition.

“This is not about President William Ruto. Those are paid protesters,” Duale said, adding, “This is the 17th Ebola outbreak. It happened under all successive governments. Why is the Ebola outbreak during the administration of President William Ruto making people go and demonstrate?”

But community leaders in Nanyuki dismissed the claims, saying they trivialised genuine public concerns and ignored substantive issues surrounding the proposed facility. 

Community leader Marlin Ndegwa said the government had misread public sentiment and was undermining constitutional principles on public participation.

“We reject in totality the proposed Ebola quarantine facility in Nanyuki. This is not a partisan issue. It is an issue of constitutional governance, public health, biosecurity and the fundamental right of communities to determine their future,” he said. 

Ndegwa added that the opposition to the project cuts across political and social divides, contrary to claims that it is politically orchestrated.

“To reduce this matter to politics is to insult the intelligence of the people of Nanyuki. This opposition is broad-based, informed and rooted in legitimate constitutional concerns about safety, transparency and public participation,” he said.

He said residents, conservation stakeholders, business owners, youth and women groups were all concerned about the implications of hosting Ebola-related infrastructure in a populated and economically sensitive area. 

Ndegwa further challenged the government’s assertion that the proposed site is far from residential areas, arguing that it is within an active urban environment surrounded by homes, schools and businesses.

He also questioned the policy direction of prioritising quarantine infrastructure over prevention and surveillance systems.

“Why are we discussing bringing Ebola infrastructure to Nanyuki? Why are we inviting the risk into Kenya?” he posed.

Grassroots leader Grace Wanene also dismissed claims that the protests are politically sponsored, saying residents are driven by both health and economic concerns.

She warned that the establishment of the facility could negatively affect Laikipia’s tourism and investment prospects, given the region’s dependence on wildlife tourism, hospitality and seasonal volunteer programmes.

“Everybody will be afraid to travel to Laikipia County, if not Kenya at large. The local economy could suffer significant setbacks if global perceptions shift negatively,” Wanene said.

She added that Kenya should instead prioritise strengthening its already strained public health system, citing shortages of essential medicines in public hospitals.

“Before the government thinks of introducing specialised Ebola infrastructure, it must first fix the basics. Our hospitals are struggling with shortages of essential drugs, and patients are being forced to buy even simple painkillers outside facilities. That is where urgent attention is needed,” she said.

Florence Wahome said residents are also concerned about existing sanitation challenges near Laikipia Airbase, warning that the proposed facility could worsen health risks in the surrounding community.

She noted that there is a dumping site adjacent to the Laikipia Airbase where residents scavenge and recycle reusable materials, a situation she said already exposes families to health hazards.