Overview
- U.S. construction activity and flights to Laikipia Air Base have continued this week even though protesters in Nanyuki turned violent and at least two people were killed.
- The planned facility is a 50‑bed quarantine and isolation unit intended to care for Americans exposed to the Ebola outbreak, and satellite imagery shows tents, cleared land and new tarmac at the site.
- The High Court of Nairobi ordered work and patient arrivals suspended on May 28 and later extended that suspension, but on the ground build‑out has proceeded while the legal challenge continues.
- President William Ruto has publicly defended his approval of the U.S. request and U.S. officials say they are coordinating with Kenya and plan to commit roughly $13.5 million to Kenyan preparedness efforts.
- The decision comes as the WHO has declared the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak an international emergency, there are no approved vaccines for this strain, and some Kenyan health groups and some U.S. CDC officials have warned the plan raises public‑health and sovereignty concerns.