Tensions have flared in Kenya’s political circles after leaders aligned to the Kenya Kwanza administration pushed back against remarks by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over a proposed Ebola quarantine facility.
Speaking at a fundraising event in Baringo North, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot said discussions around public health preparedness were being dragged into political contestation, warning against what he described as the politicisation of disease response measures.
The row centres on claims by Gachagua, now leading the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), that a planned quarantine facility linked to Laikipia Air Base was disproportionately targeting communities in the Mt Kenya region. His remarks have stirred debate across the political divide.
Government leaders dismissed the allegations, insisting the proposed measures are part of broader preparedness efforts against potential Ebola outbreaks. They argued that both Kenyan authorities and international partners are focused on strengthening response capacity rather than targeting any community.
Baringo Senator Vincent Chemitei also criticised the former deputy president, urging him to avoid framing health security issues in ethnic or regional terms, and calling for a more restrained public debate.
The Ministry of Health has previously outlined plans requiring about KSh2.6 billion to bolster early response capacity, including surveillance at border points, laboratory preparedness, and emergency staffing. Health officials say the funding is aimed at ensuring readiness should infections rise.
At the same time, the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi has clarified that health preparedness initiatives are not intended to expose communities to risk, amid public concern over the proposed facility.
The debate has unfolded alongside court proceedings. The High Court has temporarily halted aspects of the project, directing the government to disclose agreements, assessments, and approvals tied to the plan, including public health and environmental evaluations.
The Ebola outbreak in parts of the region, including reported cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, has heightened regional vigilance, with health authorities stepping up monitoring and coordination.
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