President William Ruto has strongly defended his government's decision to set up an Ebola quarantine and treatment centre in Laikipia amid rising number of new cases and brewing opposition from wananchi, leaders and other stakeholders for the establishment of the U.S-backed facility.

In an update from Wajir on Tuesday, Dr Ruto noted that the centre being set up at Laikipia Airbase is part of a bold plan to establish national health defenses as rare Bundibugyo Ebola virus continues to ravage East African nations.

"Kenya’s partnership with the United States spans decades and has played an important role in supporting our response to major public health challenges, including HIV/Aids, COVID-19, and Ebola," said Dr. Ruto.

He added: "The quarantine facility being established at Laikipia Air Base with the support of the United States is one of 23 such centres under Kenya’s disease preparedness framework, alongside facilities at Kenyatta National Hospital (Nairobi), the National Police Service Hospital (Nairobi), Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (Eldoret), Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (Nairobi/Kiambu), and Alupe Hospital (Busia), among others."

The facility has elicited public outcry with wananchi and grassroots leaders voicing their concern and blaming the government for allowing in people exposed to the Ebola disease into the country.

On Friday last week, Katiba Institute obtained temporary injunction, halting the establishment of the 50-bed centre in Laikipia Airbase. The High Court judge barred authorities in the country from allowing any exposed foreign persons into the country. 

However, media reports indicate the construction of the facility has been ongoing in breach of court orders.

Last week, the U.S. government announced it is establishing Ebola quarantine centre in Laikipia to serve American citizens in the region who have been exposed to the viral disease. 

This call has seen Washington accused of double standards since it made it public that it is not prepared to allow anyone, including U.S. citizens, to be flown into their country.

"Similar partnerships proved invaluable during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the establishment of a specialised facility at Nairobi Hospital, and continue to enhance our preparedness today," explained Dr. Ruto.

Latest data shows that over 1000 suspected cases of Ebola disease have been reported in the latest outbreak's epicenter, the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Whereas the rare strain has no known vaccine or cure, DRC has also announced the full recovery of a medical worker who had contracted the disease.

Currently, while nations around East Africa remain on edge, the bulk of the cases of rare Bundibugyo virus remain in Ituri Province, eastern DRC, where over 1000 incidences have been reported.

In DRC, the illness has claimed the lives of 42 people while one person in Uganda died of the disease according to health authorities.

While visiting Ebola ravaged DRC at the weekend, WHO Director General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus called for a united front to tackle the latest outbreak. 

“DRC has faced Ebola before, sixteen times, and has ended every outbreak,” he said. “This is the seventeenth. That history gives me real confidence.” Closing his remarks, Tedros sought to reassure affected communities. “You are not alone in this,” he said. “We are here, we are with you, and we will see this through together.”

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