Ruto and Rubio speak: US draws the line on Ebola as Kenya mum on deal
Africa
By
Betty Njeru
| May 29, 2026
President William Ruto and U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio. [PCS]
The United States says it will commit $13.5 million (Sh1.7 billion) to support Kenya’s Ebola preparedness efforts.
The announcement was made by the US State Department following a phone call between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President William Ruto on Thursday.
“The United States intends to commit $13.5 million toward Kenya’s Ebola preparedness efforts and has already committed $112 million in bilateral assistance to the region,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement.
The call came a day after reports emerged that the US plans to establish a quarantine facility in Kenya for American citizens infected with Ebola, a proposal that has sparked public concern and legal challenges.
READ MORE
Co-op Bank named Africa's SME Bank of the Year
Finance Bill will hit sector hard, warn aviation industry players
Experts: Finance Bill proposal on nascent sectors hurts growth
Panama eyes new China maritime deal despite Trump pressure
Kenya's 18.1 million informal workers hold the future of pensions
Why you will soon pay more for ugali
Global push to redefine housing for appropriate policy intervention
Slow decarbonisation of buildings, construction sector raise concerns
Growing dominance of China in African ports ruffles feathers
Kenya's flower exports now feel the heat of rising freight costs
Pigott said both countries would leverage the “strong US-Kenya health partnership” that has previously helped address public health challenges in Kenya and across East Africa.
The proposed arrangement has triggered criticism from sections of the public and civil society groups.
Katiba Institute and the Law Society of Kenya have filed petitions at the High Court seeking to stop the establishment of the facility. The petitioners argue that the move lacks public participation, poses health risks and could endanger Kenyans.
Rubio has publicly maintained that the United States will not allow Ebola cases within its borders.
“Our priority is to protect the American people. We cannot allow any cases of Ebola to enter the United States,” he said on Wednesday.
Under the proposed arrangement, American citizens showing symptoms of Ebola would reportedly be transferred to the facility in Kenya for treatment.
The Ministry of Health defended the talks, saying Kenya has the capacity to handle such cases and that the partnership would strengthen global health security.
Critics, however, are questioning why the facility is being proposed for Kenya instead of countries currently battling outbreaks, given that Kenya has not recorded a single Ebola case.
“We want to see the Kenyan government take robust measures to prevent Ebola from entering the country. That includes declining the US request to establish an Ebola treatment facility in Kenya,” LSK President Charles Kanjama said.
According to a Reuters report, as at Friday, May 27, preparations for the proposed facility in central Kenya have already begun.
Meanwhile, the High Court has this morning barred the government from proceeding with the construction of the proposed Ebola treatment centre, pending the hearing of a case filed by Katiba Institute.