NAIROBI, Kenya- Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has been found in contempt of court for failing to halt the construction of a controversial US-backed Ebola quarantine facility at the Laikipia Air Base despite existing court orders suspending the project.
The High Court ruled on Monday that Duale had disobeyed directives requiring the government to stop work on the facility pending the determination of a petition challenging its legality and safety.
The court has ordered the Health CS to appear before a judge on Tuesday for mitigation and sentencing.
The case was filed by the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and Katiba Institute, which argue that Kenya’s health system is already under strain and should not be used to host foreign Ebola patients.
The petitioners also questioned the transparency of agreements between Kenya and the United States regarding the project.
The facility, located at the Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki, has sparked nationwide debate since reports emerged that it would be used to quarantine Americans exposed to Ebola outbreaks in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The United States has committed about $13 million to support the initiative.
Justice Patricia Nyaundi found that construction activities continued despite court orders issued in late May and early June.
Katiba Institute had accused Duale and other state officials of deliberately disregarding the court’s directives and proceeding with the project.
The ruling comes after weeks of heightened tensions and protests in Laikipia and other parts of the country.
Demonstrations against the facility have resulted in clashes with police, multiple arrests and the deaths of at least three protesters, according to rights groups and media reports.
President William Ruto has consistently defended the project, arguing that it forms part of Kenya’s broader Ebola preparedness strategy and strengthens the country’s long-standing health partnership with the United States.
He has maintained that the facility would benefit both Kenya and its international partners in the event of an outbreak.
The US Embassy in Nairobi has previously stated that the quarantine centre poses no danger to local communities and that it is working with the Kenyan government to address concerns raised through the court process.
Duale’s appearance in court on Tuesday is expected to determine the penalties he could face following the contempt finding, a development that intensifies the legal and political battle surrounding one of the country’s most contentious public health projects.
