Aden Duale, Kenya’s Health Minister, halted the construction of a US‑backed Ebola quarantine centre in Nanyuki after being found in contempt of court.
In a rare court appearance, Duale apologised and announced that any work at the military base would be stopped immediately.
The High Court had ordered the halt of the 50‑bed isolation facility until a pending case by a rights group could be heard, but a judge had earlier ruled that Duale had ignored that order.
The centre is planned to house US citizens suspected of catching Ebola during the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Duale’s confrontation with a judge has highlighted the legal and political stakes surrounding the facility and brought focus to issues of governance in health decisions.
After the judge’s warning, Duale reiterated his commitment to respect court orders and highlighted his experience in public service.
He said both Kenya and the US would suspend the collaboration on the ban facility following the court order.
Satellite imagery analysis shows increased activity and infrastructure development on the site, despite the halt order.
Protests in Nanyuki, sparked by the $13.5m aid plan, have turned violent, leading to three deaths, including 17‑year‑old schoolboy Sylvester Muigai Ndungün, as police attempted to disperse demonstrators.
Rights group Katiba Institute warned that the proposed quarantine could pose grave public health risks, a claim Duale dismissed as unfounded.
President William Ruto defended the plan, citing humanitarian reasons for hosting the facility and urging politicians to avoid politicising the serious Ebola threat.
Kenya has not recorded any Ebola cases yet, but the US has pledged $112m for regional outbreak response.
Medical unions in Kenya, including KMPDU, have voiced opposition over the choice of Kenya as a site for a quarantine facility for American patients.
The US intends to provide $13.5m (£10.7m) to aid Kenya’s Ebola preparedness as part of the broader $112m commitment.
