Kenyan President William Ruto on Monday advocated the establishment of a quarantine center for US citizens exposed to the Ebola virus at Laikipia Air Force Basewhich sparked protests in the country. TASR writes about it according to the report of the AP agency.
- Kenyan President William Ruto defends quarantine center for Americans with Ebola.
- The quarantine facility at the Laikipia base is one of twenty-four centers.
- Hundreds of young Kenyans are protesting in the city of Nanyuki against the establishment of this centre.
- The High Court of Kenya temporarily suspends the establishment of the center and the arrival of patients.
- The United States plans to fund Kenya’s epidemic preparations with $13.5 million.
The President said on Monday evening that Kenya has been cooperating with the US in the field of health for several years and that the quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Force Base is one of 24 that have been built in case of an Ebola outbreak in the country.
Hundreds of young Kenyans protested the establishment of the center in Nanyuki on Monday after the US announced last week that plans to send Americans who contracted the virus while abroad to a new center in Kenya instead of flying them home.
The High Court of Kenya late last week suspended the establishment of the center and the arrival of foreign patients until the dispute is resolvedfiled by the Kenya Bar Association and the Katiba Institute for the Protection of the Constitution. Both organizations pointed to the country’s fragile health system as a reason why they would be there foreigners with Ebola should not have been quarantined.
Speaking on the matter for the first time, Ruto said he agreed to the establishment of the center based on existing bilateral relations. “When (US) President Donald Trump asked the Kenyan government to support the establishment of a center at Laikipia Air Force Base, I gave my consent as it was an agreement and partnership with friends who have been working with Kenya for 30 to 40 years,” he said.
Ruto further said that the centers set up under the partnership across the country would also benefit Kenyans in the event of an Ebola outbreak. “We are a responsible government. We know what we are doing. People should calm down and politicians should avoid irresponsible and unnecessary talk.” he said. The US government intends to allocate $13.5 million for measures in Kenya aimed at preparing for the Ebola epidemic, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
