Hundreds of protesters lit fires and hurled stones at law enforcement officers in Kenya's Central town of Nanyuki as they demonstrated against a quarantine centre for US citizens exposed to Ebola.
Police fired Gunshots, water cannon and tear gas to water down Tuesday’s violence that came as work on the proposed quarantine centre at the town’s Laikipia Air Base continue.
Angry Kenyans accuse the United States of shifting the risks of caring for people exposed to the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo onto Kenya.
Kenya has never recorded a case of Ebola, and many residents oppose bringing potential carriers of the virus into the country.
The centre is designed to have 50 isolation beds, run by US staff, and was nearing completion late last week.
Construction has continued despite a temporary halt order from Kenya’s High Court and vocal opposition from local politicians.
President William Ruto’s government has pledged to press ahead with the project, arguing that Kenya owes Washington for years of financial and technical support.
The US has committed $13.5 millions to support Kenya’s Ebola preparedness efforts.
Kenya has never recorded a case of Ebola, and many residents oppose bringing potential carriers of the virus into the country.
The centre is designed to have 50 isolation beds, run by US staff, and was nearing completion late last week.
Construction has continued despite a temporary halt order from Kenya’s High Court and vocal opposition from local politicians.
President William Ruto’s government has pledged to press ahead with the project, arguing that Kenya owes Washington for years of financial and technical support.
The US has committed $13.5 millions to support Kenya’s Ebola preparedness efforts.
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