Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has intensified pressure on the government over a proposed Ebola research and containment facility in Laikipia County, demanding greater transparency and accountability amid growing public concern about the project.

Speaking on Friday, June 12, 2026, during the ongoing opposition’s Komboa Kenya Caravan tour in Western Kenya, Muturi questioned the government’s reluctance to provide detailed information about the high-security facility, warning that continued secrecy was fueling suspicion among Kenyans.

In a statement shared via his official X account shortly after the first day of the tour, the former Attorney General said the government had failed to adequately explain the objectives, ownership structure, and agreements surrounding the proposed facility, despite its potential implications for public health and national security.

Calls for transparency

Muturi argued that the government’s silence on key aspects of the project had created unnecessary anxiety among citizens.

“The more the Government avoids answering questions about this project, the more suspicion it creates,” Muturi stated.

“Kenyans are being asked to trust a facility dealing with one of the world’s deadliest pathogens, yet critical information remains hidden from the public.”

The former Cabinet Secretary posed a series of questions regarding the project, including who was financing it, who stood to benefit from it, and what agreements had been signed between the government and other stakeholders.

He challenged authorities to release all relevant documents for public scrutiny.

“If the Government has nothing to hide, let it come out clean. Let every agreement be published. Let Parliament, independent experts, and Kenyans scrutinize every aspect of this project,” Muturi stated.

Muturi claims external interests

Muturi also raised an alarm over allegations linking the project to interests associated with illicit mineral and gold trafficking networks operating in conflict-prone regions.

While no evidence has been publicly presented to substantiate the claims, Muturi insisted that the allegations were serious enough to warrant comprehensive public disclosure and independent scrutiny.

“Even more disturbing are allegations that have emerged linking the project to interests associated with illicit mineral and gold trafficking networks operating across conflict-affected regions. These claims are too serious to be brushed aside with public relations statements and government silence,” he said.

The former Attorney General maintained that transparency was the only way to dispel speculation and restore public confidence in the project.

Government urged to engage the public

Muturi said projects involving dangerous pathogens such as Ebola require the highest levels of public trust and accountability.

He argued that a government confident in its intentions should welcome questions rather than avoid them.

“A government that is confident in its intentions does not hide from questions. It answers them. It does not operate in secrecy. It embraces accountability,” he said.

According to Muturi, the proposed facility’s scale and sensitivity make it necessary for Parliament, health experts, civil society groups, and ordinary citizens to be fully informed about its purpose and safeguards.

The remarks come amid growing debate over Kenya’s preparedness to handle infectious disease outbreaks and the role of specialized research and containment facilities in strengthening public health systems.

Supporters of advanced disease research facilities argue that such centres are critical in improving surveillance, diagnostics, vaccine development, and emergency response capabilities.

However, critics have called for greater public participation and transparency whenever high-containment laboratories are proposed, citing concerns about safety, governance, and oversight.

Construction stopped

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has stated that the government fully complied with a court order halting the construction of the proposed Ebola quarantine facility at a military camp in Laikipia County.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting on infectious disease preparedness in Nairobi on June 12, 2026, Duale dismissed reports suggesting that construction was continuing.

“Let me be clear. Preparedness facilities are not evidence of an outbreak. They are just precautionary measures designed to ensure that if a suspected or confirmed case arises, our health system can respond swiftly and effectively while protecting the public,” Duale said.

He confirmed that construction at the Laikipia site was suspended in line with the court ruling, noting that the project is part of 23 preparedness facilities planned across the country.