MERU, Kenya — Former Deputy President and Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has sparked political debate after alleging that the planned establishment of an Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki is politically targeted to wipe out Mt Kenya community.
Speaking during a consultative meeting with DCP aspirants from Meru County, Gachagua questioned the rationale behind the reported agreement between the Kenyan government and the United States to host the facility, raising concerns about its safety implications and location.
He argued that Ebola remains a highly dangerous infectious disease and warned against what he described as exposing local populations to heightened risk.
He further suggested that international health guidance discourages practices that could increase the likelihood of transmission in densely populated areas.
Gachagua also criticised elected leaders from Meru County for what he termed silence over the matter, accusing them of failing to defend their constituents at a time of public concern.
He claimed that the decision to host the facility amounted to deliberate targeting of the Mt Kenya region, stating that the move could pose an existential threat to local communities.
Gachagua further rejected the proposal, insisting that such a facility should not be established in Kenya.
“We have every reason to believe that this Ebola centre is a strategic plan to wipe out the Mt Kenya community and, more so, the people of Meru and Laikipia,” Gachagua said.
“We don’t want this Ebola centre anywhere in Kenya. Let the Americans take it to America or another country,” he added.
The remarks have intensified political debate around the proposed Ebola quarantine facility, which is linked to Kenya’s broader cooperation with the United States on epidemic preparedness and response.
President William Ruto has defended the planned partnership, stating that Kenya would be acting irresponsibly if it rejected support aimed at strengthening its capacity to respond to infectious disease outbreaks.
Speaking during a state visit to South Africa, Ruto said the initiative forms part of broader international health security cooperation and warned against isolating Kenya from global preparedness frameworks.
“It would be the most unfortunate if, on one request by the Americans to set up a facility at their cost, we would refuse. We would look very inhuman,” Ruto said.
The United States government is reported to have committed approximately KSh 1.7 billion to support Ebola preparedness efforts in Kenya, including infrastructure and response capacity development.
Ebola is a viral haemorrhagic fever classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a high-risk infectious disease, with past outbreaks in Africa demonstrating its potential for rapid spread and significant mortality if not contained early.
Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki has been identified in reports as the proposed location for the Ebola quarantine facility, although implementation details remain subject to official confirmation and operational planning by relevant authorities.
Also Read: Why Kenya’s proposed Ebola quarantine facility is a strategic necessity, not a threat
The controversy has now evolved into a broader political and public health debate, touching on issues of national preparedness, international cooperation, and regional political sensitivities.
While the government maintains that the project is a necessary step in strengthening epidemic response systems, critics continue to question its location and implications for surrounding communities.
No independent evidence has been presented to support claims that the facility is intended to target any specific community.
The debate is expected to continue as discussions around Kenya’s health security partnerships and epidemic preparedness framework progress.
