Gigantic aircraft land in Nanyuki as debate on Ebola centre rises

In the last three days, Nanyuki residents have been watching the skies as three gigantic aircraft fly into the highly guarded Laikipia Airbase.

This, amidst the debate over the United States of America's plans to mount an Ebola quarantine and treatment centre in the area, rages on.

On Friday and Saturday, three huge helicopters landed at Nanyuki’s Laikipia Air Base, allegedly transporting trained medical personnel and equipment.

The photos of the foreign planes flooded social media platforms as the locals protested the decision by the Kenyan and US governments to establish the quarantine and isolation facility. 

Immediately the matter came into the limelight, Murang’a governor Irungu Kang’ata castigated the move, saying it was uncalled for.

On Friday afternoon, leaders voiced their opposition to the establishment of the facility, questioning why the infected Americans were flown from DRC to Kenya's Nanyuki, which is 3,430 kilometres away.

Governor Kang'ata and MPs Mwangi Kiunjuri (Laikipia East), Sara Korere (Laikipia North), Wachira Karani (Laikipia West) and Jane Kagiri opposed the establishment of the facility.

The MPs questioned why the government was not giving full disclosure of its intentions and why the US administration was against their own people entering their motherland.

The leaders said the set-up of the facility should be at the source of the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for greater, speedy and efficient management.

“With all the US government's might, both in terms of influence and resources, wouldn’t it be more prudent to set up a full-fledged facility to deal with the outbreak in DRC?" asked the leaders in a joint press statement.

The governor said his office had not been consulted on the matter, and Laikipia was not ready to handle such a thing.

“The residents have strongly opposed the move. They suggest the disease be combatted at the source as health protocol demands,” said Irungu.

Mwangi wa Sammy, a resident of the Matanya area in Nanyuki, rejected the establishment of the quarantine facility, saying the sick would be better treated at the source.

“The mention of the establishment of the Ebola quarantine and treatment in Nanyuki forced many of the hotels to lose bookings after tourists cancelled their flights to Kenya,” said Mr Mwangi. 

Elsewhere, a section of Kenya Kwanza leaders from the Western Kenya region has challenged former President Uhuru Kenyatta to publicly explain the details of a health cooperation agreement signed between Kenya and the United States that they claim paved the way for the establishment of disease research and isolation facilities in the country.

Speaking during a UDA delegates' meeting in Luanda, Kakamega deputy governor Ayub Savula and Vihiga Woman Representative Beatrice Adagala said President William Ruto should not be blamed for the proposed establishment of an Ebola quarantine and research facility, arguing that the framework was put in place years before he assumed office.

The leaders maintained that the agreement, first signed in 2015, exposed Kenya to the possibility of hosting research and isolation centres for diseases classified as biological threats, including Ebola.

"The country should focus on preparing to control and contain deadly diseases instead of politicising health matters and blaming President Ruto. Last year, the Head of State was just signing on to an already sealed deal to provide data, but the gist of the deal was sealed during the Uhuru tenure," Savula said.

Savula said public criticism directed at President Ruto over the matter was misplaced, noting that the current administration only inherited and continued an agreement entered into by previous governments.

Adagala echoed Savula's sentiments, urging Kenyans to support the Ministry of Health in strengthening disease surveillance and response mechanisms.

"The Ministry of Health should be supported in safeguarding public health rather than turning the issue into a political contest," she said. 

The leaders argued that the United States has remained one of Kenya's largest partners in the health sector since independence and that cooperation in disease research and response should not be viewed through a political lens.

Savula further claimed that media reports indicate that in July 2015, Kenya and the United States entered into a comprehensive agreement that allowed the establishment of research and isolation centres for biological threats. 

"The agreement was signed by then Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia and former US Ambassador Robert Godec before being ratified by the National Assembly in November 2016. It was later extended on April 2, 2022 when the Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe and US Chargé d'Affaires Eric Kneedler signed a seven-year extension set to run until April 5, 2029," said Savula.

The deputy governor questioned why there was little public opposition to the agreement when it was first signed and later extended.

"If the agreement was so controversial, why were there no court cases, public demonstrations, or objections from county governments, civil society organisations, or professional bodies when it was signed and extended?" he posed.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna also questioned the country's preparedness to handle potential Ebola-related health concerns, claiming Kenya lacked adequate capacity to effectively manage such outbreaks.

"We still have diseases like bilharzia and malaria killing Kenyans, yet the government wants to convince people it is fully prepared against Ebola. Leaders must stop misleading Kenyans and focus on protecting lives. Just because someone has been given money, he wants to play with the lives of Kenyans. I want to tell President Ruto that we will not agree on that," he said.

Speaking in Bungoma on Saturday, the senator further accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of corruption and poor governance, claiming that many of the country's challenges would be resolved through a change of leadership.

"Almost 80 per cent of Kenya's problems will be solved when this government is voted out. We will not allow corruption and mismanagement to continue," he said.

Furthermore, religious leaders from Busia County opposed the proposed plan to set up the Ebola quarantine centre in Kenya, arguing that the country has no muscle to handle such a deadly disease.

"We want Kenya to focus on its local challenges. Our health care systems are not as advanced as those of the USA in dealing with a volatile disease like Ebola. As a country, we should be focusing on strengthening our health system and prevention measures, especially at border points," said George Odhiambo, the chairman of Busia Interfaith Association.