US govt sends message to Ruto on Ebola outbreak response amid protests
By Aloys Michael, June 10, 2026The United States has lauded the Kenyan government over ongoing cooperation on the Ebola response, even as protests intensify over a controversial quarantine facility project.
The message followed a meeting on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Oslo, Norway, between President William Ruto and U.S. senior advisor for Arab and African affairs Massad Boulos.
Speaking after the talks, Boulos commended the government’s involvement in regional Ebola containment efforts and stressed the importance of continued collaboration between Washington and Nairobi.
“We discussed U.S.-Kenyan cooperation to respond to Ebola, and I thanked President Ruto for his steadfast partnership,” Boulos wrote on X.
He further emphasised the shared responsibility in managing the outbreak, noting, “Both of our nations have vital roles to play in fighting this outbreak and protecting our populations,” he added.
The US also disclosed that the Trump administration had already committed more than Ksh25.8 billion in direct support toward Ebola response operations.
Additional funding of Ksh45.2 billion has been allocated for Ebola and wider humanitarian assistance in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, and Uganda through the United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs OCHA, contributing to a broader Ksh232 billion package.
The diplomatic engagement took place against the backdrop of rising tension in Kenya’s Laikipia region, where residents have protested a planned Ebola quarantine facility supported by the U.S. government.
In Nanyuki, demonstrations escalated on the same day as the Oslo meeting, resulting in the death of one protester and the arrest of more than 50 others.
The unrest has been fueled by opposition to the project, despite a court order halting its construction. Reports indicate that construction has nonetheless begun, raising legal and governance concerns over compliance with judicial directives.
Beyond Ebola-related cooperation, the discussions also touched on regional security, particularly the conflict in Sudan. Both sides reiterated the need for urgent de-escalation and humanitarian access.
“We also covered the critical importance of achieving a humanitarian truce in Sudan, followed by a permanent ceasefire. We emphasised that external actors must cease fueling the conflict through military support to the warring parties,” Boulos said.