Tensions remain high in Nanyuki after protests against a proposed Ebola quarantine facility near Laikipia Air Base, with 17 of the 31 people arrested during Monday, June 1, 2026.

Demonstrators are now warning they will resume protests on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, if the plan is not cancelled.

The group, released on a cash bail of Ksh10,000 each, had been charged with unlawfully obstructing motor vehicles during the unrest.

The demonstrations began peacefully as residents marched toward the Laikipia Air Base before returning to Nanyuki town. The situation later escalated into clashes between protesters and police.

Following the incidents, Laikipia Deputy Governor Reuben Kamuri urged for broader public participation before any decision is made on the facility, adding that there was strong local opposition to any isolation or quarantine centre within the area, including near the airbase, and emphasised the need for stakeholder engagement.

“Anything to do with an isolation or quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base or within the Nanyuki area, people have said they do not want it. If there are issues that require engagement, then all stakeholders must be involved,” Kamuri stated.

The protests come amid reports of proposed US plans to establish an Ebola quarantine base in Kenya, including arrangements that would allow the transport of Americans in the region to the facility when necessary, potentially by air.

Satellite imagery reviewed by Reuters indicated that approximately 11 acres of land within Laikipia Air Base had been cleared since late May, with white tents and activity visible on-site by early June. Witnesses also reported aircraft landings carrying personnel and equipment.

At least two people were reported killed earlier during initial protests linked to the planned facility near Nanyuki.

Following a court order suspending the establishment of the facility, the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi stated it remains in discussions with Kenyan authorities to address concerns and resolve opposition surrounding the project.

US Embassy on Ebola facility

This comes even as the United States has said that a bio-isolation facility in Laikipia poses no risk to nearby communities, as it moves to reassure the public and address a court case filed in Kenya over the project.

In a statement issued by the US Embassy in Kenya on June 2, 2026, officials said they are working closely with the Kenyan government to resolve concerns and explain the purpose of the facility to the public.

“We are aware of the court action filed in Kenya and are actively working with the Kenyan government to resolve any objections and communicate our shared objectives to the Kenyan people,” the embassy said.

The statement comes as Kenya and the United States expand cooperation in response to an Ebola outbreak in the region. The embassy said the two countries share a long-standing health partnership that has supported public health systems for decades.

“The United States and Kenya share a historic health partnership that over decades has benefitted both Americans and Kenyans,” the statement read. “Our joint response to the current Ebola outbreak is a natural extension of our longstanding cooperation.”