Kenya’s President William Ruto has again defended his government’s decision to allow the United States to build an Ebola quarantine facility in central Kenya, about 200 kilometres north of Nairobi.
The remarks were made during a one-day state visit to South Africa, where Ruto held talks with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
💰 Health infrastructure investment
Ruto said the US government is supporting Kenya’s health system as part of the arrangement, putting the investment at about 1.8 billion Kenyan shillings for Ebola-related health infrastructure.
He explained that the facility will include a 50-bed isolation unit intended for American citizens who may be exposed to Ebola.
Public concern and protests
The decision has sparked protests in Kenya, with some citizens expressing fears that bringing potentially infected individuals into the country could increase public health risks.
The Ebola outbreak has been particularly severe in parts of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with additional cases reported in neighbouring Uganda.
Ruto acknowledged these concerns but insisted the government must take preventive action:
> “The Ebola situation in eastern DRC is a source of concern for any country, including Kenya… the most responsible thing to do is to prepare.”
Kenya–South Africa cooperation
During the same visit, President Ramaphosa addressed concerns about rising anti-immigrant sentiment in South Africa, stating that the country is not xenophobic and is working on broader migration solutions.
Both leaders praised the strong diplomatic and trade relationship between Kenya and South Africa, which has grown significantly over the past three decades.
They also signed six new agreements covering:
Trade
Maritime transport
Education
Culture
Kenya is currently South Africa’s largest trading partner outside the Southern African Development Community (SADC), with annual trade exceeding $675 million.
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