The United States has deployed military personnel to Kenya to support the construction and planned operation of an Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base, even as the project remains suspended following a court order.
The move has added a new layer to an already contentious project that has sparked legal challenges and public debate across the country.
The deployment was confirmed by the U.S. State Department to Stars and Stripes.
While the exact number of personnel sent to Kenya has not been disclosed, officials said the team includes specialists in medical support, engineering, communications, security, and contract planning operating under the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).
The development comes at a time when construction of the proposed Ksh1.7 billion Ebola isolation facility has been halted by the High Court.
The court issued conservatory orders stopping both the construction and operationalisation of the facility pending the hearing and determination of a case filed by Katiba Institute.
The petition challenges the agreement between Kenya and the United States, with the institute arguing that the project was negotiated without adequate public participation and that key details surrounding the arrangement were not made available to the public.
According to the agreement, the 50-bed temporary facility is intended to triage, isolate, and monitor American citizens who may be exposed to Ebola outbreaks in the region.
These include aid workers, military personnel, and health officials operating in East and Central Africa.
The project is linked to ongoing Ebola outbreaks in countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, where the disease has caused significant loss of life. U.S. officials have stated that the facility is part of preparedness measures aimed at responding to potential health emergencies involving American personnel working in the region.
AFRICOM has clarified that it will not be responsible for providing frontline medical care. Instead, the command says its role will focus on logistics and support functions if called upon by the U.S. government.
The facility itself is expected to be staffed entirely by members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps rather than military medical teams.
The project has faced criticism from sections of civil society and members of the public who have questioned both the location of the facility and the process through which the agreement was reached.
However, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has defended the initiative, saying it could help protect Kenyan soldiers serving in the Democratic Republic of the Congo alongside American personnel.
Despite the government’s support for the project, Duale confirmed that all further construction activities have been paused in compliance with the court’s directives.
The matter is expected to return to court on June 16, when the case comes up for mention before the High Court.
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