Plans to establish a controversial Ebola treatment and quarantine facility in Laikipia have suffered another setback after the High Court extended orders stopping the project and directed the government to provide more information about the arrangement.
In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, Justice Patricia Nyaundi ordered the State to table documents related to the proposed facility within seven days. The documents include agreements, approvals, risk assessments, negotiations and operational plans connected to the project.
The decision means the project will remain suspended until the court hears and determines a petition challenging its legality.
This case is brought forth by Katiba Institute, which raises questions regarding the process used when approving this project and whether enough consultation was done before coming up with plans for the facility.
During the hearing, it was argued in court that orders should be issued to make sure that there will be no more actions before the matters outlined in the petition are addressed.
Judge Okeno-Ong’ati agreed to continue the conservatory orders, preventing the government from implementing any plans regarding this facility until such time that matters are sorted out.
In addition, the court ordered any proposals or plans that may see Ebola patients transferred, admitted, or treated at the facility in question.
This dispute has emanated from allegations that there is an intention to build a 50-bed quarantine and treatment facility of Ebola patients at the KDF air base in Laikipia.
This project, since its announcement, has raised much controversy, particularly among those living in Laikipia County who are against the plan.
According to people opposing this project, their concerns are mainly about safety threats to the surrounding areas and also the lack of transparency concerning the arrangement.
Additionally, some residents believe that a project of this nature should have had adequate public participation before implementation.
Demonstrations took to the streets last week as demonstrators demanded explanations from the government regarding the new facility.
Furthermore, there have been concerns about reports that patients not from Kenya may also utilize the services of the center, even though how this would work remains unclear.
While the legal dispute continues, President William Ruto has maintained his position.
In a statement made by the President during Madaraka Day celebrations held in Wajir over the weekend, the President emphasized that the center is to help boost Kenya’s preparedness against Ebola infections, which is part of a joint health program initiated by the Kenyan and American governments.
President Ruto further noted that the country cannot afford to wait until there is an outbreak before taking any measure of action because of the mobility of the citizens of both nations.
At this point in time, the fate of the facility still hangs in the balance as only time can tell what evidence the government will present at the next court hearing.