Olekina questions planned US Ebola facility in Kenya
By Emmanuel Rono, May 29, 2026Narok Senator Ledama Olekina has questioned the plans, suggesting that Ebola-exposed patients from the United States could be brought to Kenya for treatment, raising concerns over the country’s medical preparedness and healthcare capacity.
In a statement posted on his X account on Friday, May 29, 2026, Olekina argued about Kenya being considered as a treatment destination for patients exposed to the deadly virus.
“So now the plan is to send Ebola-exposed patients from the U.S. to Kenya for treatment? Interesting. I must have missed when Kenya suddenly became more medically advanced than the ‘first world’. Truly, the surprises never end,” he said.
Temporary blocking of the facility
The remarks by Olekina come as the Milimani High Court temporarily blocked the Kenyan government from setting up an Ebola quarantine facility with the help of the United States of America (USA) until a petition filed challenging the facility by the Katiba Institute is heard.
The Katiba Institute filed a petition seeking orders blocking the Attorney General (AG) Dorcas Oduor and the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Health, Aden Duale, listed as the respondents in the application, from setting up the facility for the highly severe and often fatal disease.
In issuing the conservatory orders, Lady Justice Nyaundi Patricia has also barred the government from establishing and approving the establishment of the Ebola quarantine facility in Kenya, either through the USA or any other foreign government or agency.
“A conservatory order is hereby issued restraining the respondents (AG Oduor and CS Duale) from establishing operational facilities or facilitating, approving, or permitting the establishment and operation of any Ebola exposure, quarantine, isolation, or treatment facility in Kenya pursuant to any arrangement with the United States of America or any foreign government or urgency pending the inter-parties hearing of the application,” Justice Nyaundi has ordered.
Ebola facility in Kenya
The Trump administration is expected to deploy United States public health officers to Kenya to staff a potential quarantine facility there amid the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The facility, which was pending approval from the Kenyan government as of Tuesday, May 26, 2026, is intended for Americans who have been exposed to or at high risk of testing positive for the virus in the region, as well as those who test positive, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.
Some members of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, a uniformed branch under the Department of Health and Human Services, have received notices to deploy, the report said.