Boniface Mwangi criticises govt’s approach to proposed Ebola facility
By Sharon Atieno, June 2, 2026Activist Boniface Mwangi has criticised the handling of the proposed US-supported Ebola quarantine facility in Nanyuki, saying the decision could have been properly managed through constitutional and institutional processes rather than executive approval alone.
Speaking in during an interview in a local station on Monday, June 02,2026, Mwangi argued that the President had legal and procedural options that were not fully utilised before the controversial arrangement was advanced.
“The President is getting involved in a 1.7 billion deal,” Mwangi said, questioning the broader economic and diplomatic implications of the arrangement.
He further argued that countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda have long-standing experience in handling Ebola outbreaks, suggesting that Kenya should have instead leaned on regional expertise rather than hosting a facility that has now sparked public concern.
“DRC has experienced Ebola for a long time and Uganda too, so their doctors are more experienced in dealing with it,” he said.
Economic concerns raised
Mwangi warned that the controversy surrounding the facility was already creating economic uncertainty, particularly in the tourism sector.
“Tourists are not coming to Kenya because of the Ebola facility. It is going to affect our economy,” he said, adding that investor confidence could also be shaken if public anxiety is not addressed.
He also criticised the decision-making process, saying the matter should have gone through structured constitutional channels.
“The President was narrow-minded. The best way he could have refused or handled that deal was to call Cabinet or take the deal to Parliament,” Mwangi stated.
He added that if Cabinet had rejected the proposal, the government would have had a clear legal and political basis to communicate the decision diplomatically.
“We had a legal way out. The court said you cannot set up a facility,” he said.
Court order and rising tensions
His remarks come amid escalating debate over the proposed Ebola preparedness facility in Laikipia County, which has already triggered protests and legal action.
A High Court ruling has temporarily blocked parts of the plan, including the transfer of Ebola-infected persons into the country, pending determination of a petition challenging the project.
Constitutional lawyer Willis Otieno has also questioned the strategic and geopolitical interests surrounding the facility, pointing to Laikipia’s sensitive security profile and foreign military presence as factors requiring public scrutiny.
Otieno has called for full disclosure of agreements tied to the project, insisting that transparency is essential in matters involving public health and international partnerships.
As opposition grows from political leaders, legal experts and residents, pressure continues to mount on the government to clarify the scope, purpose and safeguards of the proposed Ebola quarantine arrangement.