Naivasha MP opposes planned Ebola centre in Laikipia
By People Daily Digital Reporter, June 1, 2026The government decision to establish an Ebola quarantine facility in Laikipia County has continued to generate more heat than light with leaders accusing the State of exposing Kenyans to the deadly disease.
This emerged as the government entered into an agreement with the US government to host the facility in Nanyuki air base in Laikipia at a cost of Ksh1.7 billion.
In the deal, Kenya is expected to receive and quarantine tens of patients prone to the fatal diseases from neighboring countries especially from epidemic prone Congo and Uganda.
According to Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara, speaking on Sunday, May 31, 2026, the deal, if implemented, could paralyse the country’s healthcare system and expose Kenyans to the deadly disease.
She called on the government to reconsider its decision to host the facility locally owing to the health risks it posed to Kenyans.
Calls for relocation abroad
Kihara said the US government should instead support and establish the Ebola quarantine facility in the already prone countries such as Dr Congo or countries which have more expertise in handling the disease.
The MP read malice to the government decision noting that President William Ruto intended to import the epidemic in order to halt political activities in the country as the country gathers pace ahead of 2027 general elections.
“Ruto’s move to enter the deal with the Trump administration to host the Ebola facility in the country is a major risk and he intends to take advantage of any outbreak to curb political activities and even postpone elections”, said Kihara.
Speaking to the press in Naivasha, Kihara termed the decision as ‘silly’ and opposed it noting that the government should learn from lockdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Ministry of Health has indicated that there’s no single case of Ebola in the country at the moment, so why would we instead allow patients prone to the disease in the country,” said Kihara.
On his part, Alex Mbugua, Lakeview ward MCA said there was fear among Kenyans owing to the risk of the spread of the deadly epidemic which would cause major disaster in the country.
Mbugua said in case of an outbreak, the disease would wipe out the population and it was time for the government to listen to the cries of Kenyans.
He questioned why a first world country such the US would find it difficult to contain the epidemic in their country and instead entrust a third world country such Kenya to succeed.