U.S-funded Laikipia Ebola facility draws resistance as protest date nears

Public opposition is mounting ahead of planned demonstrations on June 25 against a proposed United States-funded Ebola treatment and research centre in Laikipia County, with critics citing concerns over transparency, sovereignty and foreign influence.

The planned 50-bed facility at Laikipia Air Base has sparked protests in recent weeks, drawing resistance from residents, activists and civil society groups who have questioned both the purpose of the project and the government's handling of the initiative.

According to the document, demonstrations first erupted in Nanyuki on June 1, with two people reportedly killed during the unrest.

A second round of protests on June 9 also turned deadly when 17-year-old Sylvester Muigai Ndung'u was allegedly shot during clashes between protesters and police. Witnesses claimed the teenager was shot in the head.

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has accused police of using excessive force, including live ammunition and arbitrary arrests during the demonstrations.

The report further claims that construction activities and the arrival of US military aircraft continued despite a High Court order temporarily suspending the project.

The controversy intensified after photographs surfaced showing police officers wearing uniforms resembling those used by the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK), which operates in Nanyuki.

However, the British High Commission denied any involvement, saying the uniforms had been "misappropriated" and that no BATUK personnel participated in the protests.

Opponents of the project argue that the choice of Laikipia as the facility's location has revived long-standing grievances over land ownership and the presence of foreign military interests in the region.

The document links current opposition to historical distrust of Western interventions in Africa, particularly in the health sector.

It also points to perceptions in parts of Africa, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, where some communities have questioned international responses to Ebola outbreaks and viewed them through a political rather than purely medical lens. Critics fear similar concerns could fuel resistance to the Laikipia project.

Questions have also been raised about the agreement governing the proposed facility. Civil society organisations have demanded disclosure of details including land arrangements, project costs, legal protections for foreign personnel and the framework for research and treatment activities.

According to the document, the High Court has directed the government to release some of this information, although campaigners say compliance has been limited.

With fresh demonstrations expected on June 25, the debate over the proposed Ebola centre continues to draw national attention, highlighting broader concerns about public participation, government transparency and the role of foreign partners in major projects.