Man Reportedly Killed During Kenya Protest Over Proposed US Ebola Facility
Protests intensify in Nanyuki as residents oppose plans for a US Ebola treatment facility in the region.
- Man reportedly shot during Nanyuki protest.
- Demonstrators oppose US Ebola facility.
- Court previously halted the project.
A man has reportedly been shot dead during a protest in the Kenyan town of Nanyuki against plans to establish an Ebola quarantine centre for American citizens, according to witnesses and protest leaders.
Demonstrators took to the streets demanding the cancellation of a US-backed plan to construct the facility at a nearby military base. Protesters waved Kenyan flags, displayed placards, and carried a symbolic coffin marked “Ebola” to express their opposition.
Witnesses told journalists that police used tear gas to disperse the crowd, while a protest leader alleged that officers fatally shot one of the demonstrators. Kenyan police had not commented on the incident at the time of reporting.
According to reports, clashes erupted between protesters and security personnel in Nanyuki, located about 200 kilometres north of Nairobi. Journalists at the scene reported hearing gunshots and seeing a man lying motionless after reportedly being shot in the head.
The latest unrest follows similar demonstrations last week during which two people were killed after police intervened to break up protests.
Public opposition to the proposed Ebola treatment facility has grown in recent weeks, with many residents raising concerns about potential health risks and accusing authorities of failing to adequately explain the project.
Last month, a Kenyan High Court ordered a halt to plans for the centre after a rights group filed a legal challenge, arguing that the project posed serious public health concerns.
One protester, Priscilla Imani, said the controversy has negatively affected the local economy, with visitors avoiding Nanyuki and surrounding areas due to fears linked to the facility.
“Laikipia is not a dumping site and our voices must be heard,” she said.
The proposed 50-bed isolation centre is intended to treat American citizens affected by the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and would be operated by US medical personnel.
