Kenya has approved a U.S. plan to establish an Ebola quarantine facility in Laikipia County, as Washington commits about US$13.4 million to support Kenya’s Ebola preparedness efforts.
The development follows a phone call on Thursday, May 28, between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President William Ruto, during which the two leaders discussed the Ebola outbreak and coordination between Kenya and the United States.
According to a statement from U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott, the discussion focused on securing essential medical supplies for Kenya and strengthening the country’s health preparedness systems. During the call, Rubio announced the U.S. government’s commitment of approximately US$13.4 million to support Ebola preparedness in Kenya.
Sources familiar with the plan say Kenya has given written approval for the U.S. to use land at an air force base in Laikipia for the quarantine centre. The facility is expected to become operational within a week and will initially include a 50-bed field hospital, with room for expansion to 250 beds if needed.
The site will reportedly be staffed by members of the U.S. Public Health Service, with personnel already undergoing training at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland ahead of deployment to Kenya.
The project comes amid growing concern over the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has also spread to Uganda, raising fears of wider regional transmission. U.S. officials say the facility is intended to provide rapid access to care and quarantine for Americans who may need to leave the DRC quickly without undertaking a lengthy return journey to the United States.
The arrangement is being coordinated by the U.S. Departments of State, Defense, and Health and Human Services.
