Ruto Admits Approving US Ebola Facility at Trump’s Request

President William Ruto has publicly confirmed that he personally approved the establishment of a controversial Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base after a direct request from US President Donald Trump, a revelation that has intensified an already heated national debate.

Speaking during a media engagement, Ruto defended the decision, stating that Kenya’s cooperation with the United States was rooted in a long-standing partnership spanning decades in areas such as public health, disease control, security, and medical research. According to the President, when President Trump asked Kenya to support the United States by hosting the facility at Laikipia Air Base, he agreed because of the strategic relationship between the two countries.

The facility is intended to quarantine and monitor American citizens exposed to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and parts of Central Africa. Reports indicate that the proposed centre would initially operate with approximately 50 beds and be staffed by members of the US Public Health Service. Kenya reportedly granted written authorization allowing the United States access to land at the military installation in Laikipia for the project.

However, the proposal has generated fierce opposition from sections of the public, political leaders, civil society organizations, and healthcare professionals. Critics argue that Kenya should not host foreign Ebola-exposed individuals when the country currently has no confirmed Ebola cases. Others have questioned why exposed Americans cannot be monitored within the United States instead of being transferred to Kenya.

The controversy has already triggered legal action. The High Court temporarily suspended the establishment and operation of the facility after a petition challenged the project on constitutional, public health, and public participation grounds. The court barred the admission or transfer of Ebola-exposed individuals into Kenya under the arrangement pending further hearings.

Public anger has also spilled onto the streets. Hundreds of residents and youth in Nanyuki recently staged demonstrations outside Laikipia Air Base, protesting the proposed facility and demanding that the government abandon the plan. Protesters expressed fears that the project could expose local communities to unnecessary health risks and damage the region’s reputation.

Despite the backlash, the government has continued defending the proposal. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has maintained that the arrangement forms part of broader efforts to strengthen Kenya’s Ebola preparedness and emergency response capabilities. The United States has also pledged approximately $13.5 million (about KSh1.75 billion) to support Kenya’s Ebola preparedness initiatives as part of the cooperation framework.

Political analysts say Ruto’s admission that he personally approved the project has shifted the debate from a public health issue to a political one. Opposition figures have seized on the matter to question transparency, accountability, and whether sufficient consultation took place before the agreement was reached. Some critics have even suggested that the issue could have significant political consequences if public opposition continues growing.

For supporters of the plan, the facility represents an opportunity to strengthen Kenya’s disease surveillance and emergency response systems while reinforcing its position as a regional leader in public health cooperation. For opponents, however, the proposal remains a risky arrangement that could unnecessarily expose the country to a deadly disease.

As court proceedings continue and public resistance intensifies, the future of the Laikipia Ebola facility remains uncertain. What is clear is that President Ruto’s confirmation that he personally approved the project has added a new political dimension to one of the most controversial public health debates currently facing Kenya.