President William Ruto has explained the government’s decision to approve the establishment of a health-related facility at Laikipia Air Base.
Speaking on June 1 at a media roundtable at Wajir State Lodge, Ruto stated that the Laikipia Air Base facility is part of Kenya’s long-standing cooperation with the United States in the health and security sectors, noting that the collaboration reflects continued engagement between the two countries in addressing public health and disease control challenges.
He said the approval was made after a request associated with former US President Donald Trump and was guided by an existing partnership between Kenya and the US that has spanned several decades.
“When President Trump asked the government of Kenya to support them by having a center at Laikipia Air Base, I gave the okay because it was an agreement and a partnership with friends who have worked with Kenya for 30 or 40 years,” Ruto said.
Ruto Links Kenya–US Health Cooperation to Trump-Laikipia Air Base Approval
In his address, the president stated that the United States has supported Kenya through multiple programmes, including HIV/AIDS interventions, emergency disease response initiatives, and broader public health support.
He also referenced joint efforts during previous outbreaks, including Ebola preparedness, as well as collaborative research activities during the COVID-19 pandemic, where Kenyan institutions participated in vaccine-related research.
According to Ruto, the facility at Laikipia Air Base is part of a wider national health surveillance and response system.
Also Read: Nyeri Governor Takes Stand on Ebola Quarantine Facility in Laikipia
He said similar facilities exist in multiple locations across the country, including Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, the Police Hospital in Nairobi, and other centres in Thika and Busia.
“The facility at Laikipia Air Base is not different from many other facilities we have across Kenya. We have 23 other facilities set up in hospitals and health institutions, including Kenyatta National Hospital, the Police Hospital in Nairobi, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Thika and Alupe in Busia, among others,” he explained.
Ruto maintained that the Laikipia Air Base installation should be understood within this broader framework of health cooperation and surveillance infrastructure rather than as a standalone or unusual arrangement.
Kenya Protests U.S. Ebola Quarantine at Laikipia Airbase Despite Court Order
Protests erupted in central Kenya after residents opposed the establishment of a U.S.-backed Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base, which was reportedly intended for asymptomatic individuals exposed during an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Also Read: Duale Gives New Staffing Details on U.S.-Backed Laikipia Ebola Facility After Court Suspension
The demonstrations on June 1 saw protesters block roads leading to the facility, expressing concern over the planned 50-bed quarantine site. Security officers responded with tear gas as clashes broke out between police and demonstrators in the area.
The dispute follows a May 29 High Court order that temporarily halted the project, citing insufficient public participation in the approval process. Despite the ruling, reports indicated that U.S. aircraft landed at the airbase carrying personnel linked to the initiative.
Authorities have faced criticism from sections of the public and local leaders who raised concerns over health and safety risks associated with the facility’s location and purpose.
President William Ruto defended the arrangement, describing it as part of reciprocal cooperation and long-standing health collaboration between Kenya and the United States.
A court hearing on the matter is scheduled for June 2 to determine the next legal steps regarding the project.
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