NAIROBI, Kenya — The United States has assured Kenyans that a bio-isolation facility established in Laikipia County as part of the Ebola response poses no threat to surrounding communities, even as court action is taken against aspects of the programme.
In a statement issued in Nairobi, US officials said they are working closely with the Kenyan government to address objections raised through the courts while clearly communicating the shared public health objectives behind the response.
The US said the facility forms part of a broader, coordinated strategy to prevent the spread of Ebola and reduce health risks across the region, describing it as a critical component of disease containment rather than a danger to nearby populations.
Officials noted that the Ebola response builds on decades of health cooperation between Kenya and the United States, a partnership that has supported both countries in strengthening disease surveillance, testing and emergency preparedness.
Beyond Laikipia, the two governments are expanding border screening, enhancing detection protocols and increasing access to accurate testing, particularly in counties considered high risk.
The response also includes efforts to scale up regional capacity to isolate and test asymptomatic individuals involved in outbreak response operations.
According to the statement, expanding isolation and testing capacity will help preserve Kenya’s existing clinical resources for its citizens while strengthening national readiness against potential cross-border transmission.
The United States said it remains the largest financial contributor to Ebola response efforts, with direct assistance exceeding $162 million.
Additional funding includes $350 million channelled through OCHA pooled funds to support humanitarian operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan, part of a wider $1.8 billion funding package announced in May.
US officials said the funding is aimed at stopping the Ebola outbreak at its source and preventing its spread to Kenya and other countries.
