Laikipia Tourism stakeholders oppose planned Ebola quarantine centre, warns of impact on tourism sector
By People Daily Digital Reporter, June 3, 2026Stakeholders in the tourism industry in Laikipia County have strongly opposed the construction of an Ebola quarantine centre in Nanyuki saying it will affect tourism to a large extent.
Speaking in Nanyuki during an expo organised by Laikipia Wildlife Forum on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, the stakeholders raised concerns that the number of tourists visiting various places in Laikipia might significantly decrease due to the perception of the presence of the quarantine centre.
On their part, the team stated that tourists who were interested in visiting Laikipia may postpone their plans due to the chaos of the protests witnessed in Nanyuki, which are expected to persist.
According to Laikipia Wildlife Forum Chairman Dr Romano Kiome Nanyuki is fast growing in the tourism industry due to continued marketing and there is a need to maintain this without any threat like it is now facing, with the issue of Ebola quarantine centre.
“Laikipia has many new hotels, agricultural farms, and we have been promoting conference tourism. We would not like to hurt this economy by instilling fear of a deadly disease being quarantined here,” Kiome stated.
In different associations, they have criticised the government for agreeing to the construction of this quarantine at a time when the Laikipia tourism industry has been taking urgent steps to improve itself.
Nanyuki town, a tourist destination
Worth noting, Laikipia and specifically Nanyuki town is a tourist destination that has a good climate, the equator, as well as the best route to summiting Mt Kenya.
At the same time, the town has been widely identified for community conservancies with the last two remaining Northern White Rhinos, Fatu and Najin and the Chimpanzee rescue centre at Ol Pejeta.
Laikipia Tourism Association Vice Chairman and a hotelier, Edward Wangechi, has noted a growing anxiety in the industry if the government continues the joint plan with the USA of putting up the quarantine facility at the Laikipia Airbase.
“The tourism industry supports a lot of people and Kenya’s economy, and the introduction of the quarantine centre for such a highly infectious and deadly disease in the country will be unimaginable. We plead with the government to relook into the matter,” Wangechi stated.