Ghosts of empire: A quarantine centre and Laikipia’s colonial past
Key takeaways
- A US Ebola quarantine centre has sparked protests in Laikipia, Kenya, over land and sovereignty concerns.
- But in Laikipia, the anger runs deeper than the events of the past few weeks.
- For many residents, the controversy is not simply about disease or public health.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
A US Ebola quarantine centre has sparked protests in Laikipia, Kenya, over land and sovereignty concerns.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Demonstrators gather as they confront Kenyan police officers during a demonstration against a controversial US-built Ebola quarantine centre slated to begin operations at Laikipia airbase in Nanyuki, Kenya [Luis Tato/AFP]By Vivianne Wandera Published On 17 Jun 202617 Jun 2026Nairobi, Kenya – The death of a 17-year-old schoolboy during protests against a planned US Ebola quarantine facility has transformed a public health project into one of Kenya’s most contentious political controversies this year.
Three people have now been killed, a court challenge has halted construction, and the proposed 50-bed centre at Laikipia airbase in Nanyuki has triggered fierce debate over public participation, sovereignty and foreign influence.