The United States, US, medical equipment, and specialist staff have landed at a base in Kenya, where the U.S. government is continuing to build an Ebola quarantine facility despite protests and Kenyan court orders blocking it, according to flight data and officials.
At least two people have been killed in protests in the central Kenyan town of Nanyuki, home to the Kenyan air force base where the U.S. military is building a 50-bed unit for Americans who might be exposed to the virus, which has infected hundreds in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
A U.S. diplomatic cable may have underestimated domestic opposition to the plan, which has triggered criticism of the U.S. offloading the risk of caring for its own patients.
A Kenyan court first ordered work on the Ebola facility to be suspended on May 28, yet U.S. military flights into Nanyuki continued in the days that followed, according to data from flight-tracking service Flightradar24.
READ ALSO: Kenyan President Defends Planned Ebola Quarantine Facility
The data showed at least six military aircraft, including C-130 and C-17 transport planes, had landed in Nanyuki since May 24, with three landing after the court order.
The planes have brought in technical equipment as well as dozens of physicians, engineers, lab experts, and construction workers, but no patients, according to a U.S. official, who asked not to be identified.
The U.S. embassy in Nairobi said on Wednesday it was aware of the court action, and it was “working with the Kenyan government to resolve any objections.”
Ruto has defended approving the facility, telling reporters on Monday: “We are a responsible government. We know what we are doing.” He did not comment on the court order.
Around 20 flights had landed between May 23 and May 31, according to the U.S. official and another source with direct knowledge of the matter.
“They have got everything and everyone in, except any patients,” according to the second source.
On Tuesday, a Kenyan court blocked the plan for a further three weeks and ordered the government to disclose its agreement with Washington.
But the second source said work was continuing, and the facility could be ready by Thursday. “The U.S. will only stop if the Kenyan government tells them to stop,” the source added.
The U.S. official said flights were paused on Monday due to “confusion” over the court order and what it means, but the pause was lifted on Wednesday after the Kenyan authorities told U.S. officials that they could proceed with preparations.
Reuters/Shakirat Sadiq
