One dead in Nanyuki protests over proposed Ebola facility
By Wanjira Wachira, June 9, 2026One person is reported dead in Likii slum, Nanyuki, as tensions escalate during protests over a proposed US-linked Ebola facility, with the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) claiming that police fired live bullets and arrested at least 19 protesters during the demonstrations.
The circumstances surrounding the reported death remain unclear, and authorities have not issued an official confirmation or details on what transpired in Likii.
In a video seen by People Daily Digital, chaotic scenes showed protests intensifying in Likii slum during the confrontation. Voices were heard in the footage chanting “umeua, wewe ndio umemuua” as tensions rise following reports of a shooting in the area. The video does not independently confirm the identity of the deceased or the exact cause of the reported death.
KHRC say hooded police were deployed
KHRC said that hooded police officers were deployed in Nanyuki as residents took to the streets demanding transparency over agreements, safety assessments, and operational protocols linked to the proposed Ebola facility in Laikipia County. Protesters also called for assurances on public health safety.
“The residents took to the streets, demanding that the government disclose agreements, negotiations, safety checks, approvals, and operational protocols related to a U.S.-linked Ebola facility that it said will be established in the county,” KHRC said in its statement.
Police accused of violence
The rights group further claimed that it has reviewed video footage showing police moving through the town on motorbikes and in vehicles, including white Land Cruisers and Subarus with concealed or removed number plates, during operations involving protesters and journalists.
“KHRC has verified reports and reviewed videos showing police moving through the area on motorbikes and in white Land Cruisers and Subarus with removed or concealed license plates, as officers attacked protesters and journalists,” the statement added.
KHRC also claimed that police fired live bullets and arbitrarily arrested at least 19 protesters by around 11 am, adding that the conduct of officers violates constitutional protections on peaceful assembly and demonstration.
“The conduct of police contravenes the law. KHRC demands that police respect the right to protest, provide security for protesters, unconditionally release all those detained, and ensure that they are clearly identifiable,” the commission says.
Police have not yet responded to the claims or commented on the reported death in Likii, and no official casualty figures have been released.
As of now, the situation in Nanyuki remains tense as demonstrations continue across different parts of the town amid growing calls for accountability and transparency over the proposed facility.