Kenya’s High Court has temporarily stopped plans for the United States to establish an Ebola quarantine facility in the country.
Justice Patricia Nyaundi issued the order on Thursday, directing that no person exposed to or infected with Ebola should be admitted into Kenya under the proposed arrangement until the case before the court is resolved.
The ruling followed a legal challenge filed by the Katiba Institute, a Kenyan rights organisation, which questioned how the agreement was handled.
Earlier on Thursday, the White House confirmed plans to create a facility in Kenya where American citizens exposed to Ebola would be quarantined instead of being flown back to the United States if they developed symptoms.
But the proposed arrangement quickly sparked criticism in Kenya, with opponents arguing that the government failed to involve the public or seek parliamentary approval before moving ahead with the plan.
In court documents, the Katiba Institute described the proposal as “secretive and unilateral,” saying it raised serious constitutional concerns, including issues related to public health, citizens’ rights, and government transparency.
“The establishment of an Ebola quarantine facility without public participation raises grave constitutional concerns,” the group argued.
The court has scheduled the next hearing in the case for June 2.
The development comes amid growing concerns over the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has placed neighbouring countries on heightened alert.
