Kalonzo accuses Ruto of asking US to build Ebola facility in Kenya
By Kenneth Mwenda, June 14, 2026Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka has claimed that President William Ruto was involved in requesting the United States to establish an Ebola isolation facility in Kenya, a matter that has triggered political debate amid growing concerns over foreign policy and national health preparedness.
The United States has already deployed military personnel to Kenya to help set up a temporary Ebola isolation facility at Laikipia Air Base. According to reports, the deployment forms part of a broader $220 million (about Ksh28 billion) regional response led by the US State Department, aimed at supporting containment efforts linked to Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
US Africa Command personnel are expected to assist in logistics, engineering, communications, and security support but will not take part in frontline medical care. The facility is intended to serve as a temporary isolation and monitoring centre for individuals exposed to the virus before possible evacuation.
Kalonzo, however, questioned the government’s role in the arrangement, claiming that Kenya’s leadership had actively invited the initiative without sufficient public clarity.
“Hata Wamarekani wenyewe wamekana, wakasema huyu Ruto ndiye alienda kuwambia, kuwakaribisha waje wajengee Ebola,” he said.
His remarks added to the rising public debate over whether Kenya’s preparedness efforts are being guided by national health needs or external diplomatic arrangements.
“Raisi gani anaweza kwenda ku-import Ebola? Kenya haijakuwa na kesi hata moja ya Ebola,” he said.
He argued that inconsistent statements on foreign health partnerships risk damaging Kenya’s credibility in international health and diplomatic circles.
In a related development highlighting growing international concern over Ebola preparedness in the region, Israel has included Kenya among countries under consideration for temporary travel restrictions linked to the outbreak response.
The Israeli Ministry of Health said it has expanded its Ebola preparedness plan as cases continue to be reported in parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.
Ruto’s France trip
Kalonzo also linked the Ebola facility controversy to what he described as President Ruto’s growing focus on Western engagements, saying his foreign policy approach is driven more by personal image-building than national interest. He turned his attention to Ruto’s upcoming participation in the G7 Summit in France, arguing that the trip reflects a pattern of prioritising international visibility over domestic challenges.
The Wiper leader dismissed Ruto’s claim that he will use the summit to represent Africa, insisting that such a role must be earned through respect and credibility at home.
“He says he is being invited by his friend, the president of France, Emmanuel Macron… Nataka Bwana Ruto ajue mimi kama practitioner wa mambo ya foreign relations, najua wewe unaenda tu kwa maslahi yako, si kwa maslahi ya Afrika nzima,” Kalonzo said.
He added that Kenya risks losing credibility on the global stage if its leaders are seen to focus on external approval while facing criticism at home.
“And we want the French people to take note… Hata kukaribishwa huko ni aibu,” he said.