Police in Nanyuki on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, fired tear gas to disperse protesters who had gathered in the central town in renewed demonstrations against the construction of a proposed quarantine centre for Americans exposed to Ebola, a project now at the centre of a growing political and public health controversy.

Taking it to the streets, the protesters accuse both the Kenyan government and the United States government of attempting to offload health risks onto Kenya through the construction of a 50-bed quarantine facility at a local air force base. The project has continued to stir anger among residents, despite existing court orders barring further development.

County leaders cite sidelining in decision to set up facility

Speaking amid the demonstrations, Laikipia Senator John Kinyua revealed that even local leadership was not informed about the controversial facility before construction began. The senator said that elected leaders in the region were completely blindsided by the development.

“Hakuna mtu aliambiwa kuhusu karantini hii ya Laikipia. Mimi sikuambiwa, Gavana wa Laikipia hakuambiwa, hata wabunge wa Laikipia hawakuambiwa,” Kinyua said.

Security officers moved in to break up the crowds after tensions escalated in the town, with demonstrators maintaining their opposition and demanding a complete halt to the project. The standoff underscores rising public frustration over what locals describe as a lack of consultation and transparency.

As protests continue in Nanyuki, authorities face mounting pressure to enforce court directives while addressing growing public concern over safety, sovereignty, and consultation in the handling of the project.

The situation remains tense, with both legal and political uncertainty surrounding the fate of the proposed facility, as residents vow to continue demonstrations until their concerns are addressed.

The anti-Ebola pretests began on Monday, June 1, 2026, when Nanyuki residents came out in numbers to reject plans to establish the proposed Ebola quarantine facility in the town, insisting it poses a direct risk to the local community.

The opposition has since grown to a national crisis and debate amid a court case that barred the setting up of the facility, which has brought tensions in Laikipia County and Kenya at large.