NANYUKI, Kenya — Two people were killed during protests in Nanyuki on Monday, June 1, as residents demonstrated against the proposed establishment of a U.S.-funded Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base.
The deaths were confirmed on Tuesday, June 2, by protest organiser Patrick Wahome and a security source quoted by Reuters. The National Police Service (NPS) had not issued an official statement on the fatalities by the time of publication.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain unclear, with authorities yet to provide details on what led to the fatal incidents during the unrest.
The demonstrations began early in the morning, with residents opposing the proposed facility, which they said raised safety, transparency and national security concerns.
Protesters argued that establishing an Ebola isolation and monitoring centre within a military installation near civilian settlements posed unacceptable health risks. They also demanded clarity on why the facility was being set up in Kenya rather than within the United States.
Hundreds of residents marched through parts of Nanyuki town carrying placards and tree branches, chanting slogans calling for the immediate cancellation of the project.
According to Wahome, the protesters were demanding the full closure of the proposed facility by June 9.
Security tensions escalated when some demonstrators reportedly attempted to approach the Laikipia Air Base, prompting military officers to block access and resulting in a standoff that lasted approximately two hours.
A senior official from the base later addressed the crowd and appealed for calm, as security agencies worked to de-escalate the situation.
Videos circulating from the scene showed fires burning along sections of road in Nanyuki, with thick smoke rising over parts of the town.
Security officers were also seen firing during the unrest, although the exact context of the gunfire has not been independently verified.
Residents in the Likii area said police were later deployed in large numbers to restore order, with officers clearing streets and urging people to return to their homes by around 7pm.
The protests come amid ongoing legal proceedings in Kenya, where the High Court has extended conservatory orders halting the establishment of the proposed Ebola facility at Laikipia Air Base, pending determination of a petition filed by the Katiba Institute.
The case raises constitutional and public health questions over the arrangement, which has drawn public scrutiny and political debate.
At the same time, President William Ruto has defended the broader cooperation agreement, saying it is aimed at strengthening Kenya’s preparedness for infectious disease outbreaks and improving emergency response capacity.
Reports also indicate that the United States has deployed a specialised Ebola response team to Kenya to support monitoring, care and quarantine arrangements for American citizens returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
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The incident highlights growing public anxiety surrounding Ebola preparedness measures in the region, particularly in areas hosting or linked to cross-border response operations.
Authorities have urged calm as investigations into the deaths and the conduct of the protests continue.
The National Police Service is expected to issue a formal statement outlining the circumstances surrounding the fatalities and the security response.
