The United States has defended plans to set up an Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base, arguing that Kenya’s geographic location makes it a critical hub for responding to the outbreak.
Speaking during a White House briefing, US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr Mehmet Oz said President Donald Trump’s administration is actively working with Kenya to resolve surrounding the planned Ebola quarantine facility.
Dr Mehmet also revealed US has alternative options for handling Americans exposed to Ebola if a proposed quarantine facility in Kenya is blocked by the courts.
“We are confident, and the State Department’s working on this diligently, that they’re going to be able to work out something with Kenya. There has already been a fair amount of communication around this issue,” Oz said.
“By the way, there’s a UK base there. We have other people who might be willing to welcome us, and we have our German colleagues as well. So there are many places we can send folks,” he noted.
He however said the proposed facility in Laikipia will ensure patients receive immediate medical attention during outbreaks, eliminating the need for long-distance transportation across continents.
“The main issue with having a facility close to DRC is if a patient is sick, I want to take the patient to the OR that is right next door to the room they are sick in, not the building next to them or three buildings two blocks away because time is precious,” he said.
He added that delays in treatment could significantly affect patient outcomes and dismissed suggestions that potentially exposed individuals should be flown back to the United States before their medical status is fully established.
“You have a golden hour in many of these instances around trauma, but for illnesses, it’s also relatively short. Sending them across the world, especially when we’re not sure what’s going on with them, is probably not the wisest move,” he said.
The remarks come amid rising public opposition to the proposed project where concerns about safety and the risks of hosting an Ebola-related facility have sparked protests.
The High Court on Tuesday June 2, 2026, moved to temporarily stop the establishment and operation of any Ebola-related facility in Kenya under agreements involving the United States or other foreign governments.
The conservatory orders were issued after the Katiba Institute filed a petition challenging the legality and implementation of the proposed arrangement.
