The High Court has temporarily halted the establishment of a proposed U.S.-linked Ebola quarantine and treatment facility in Laikipia County following a petition filed by Katiba Institute and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).
In a conservatory order issued on Friday, Hon. Lady Justice Patricia Mande of the Milimani High Court barred the government and its agents from establishing, operationalising, approving or facilitating any Ebola exposure, quarantine, isolation or treatment centre in Kenya under any arrangement involving the United States government or any foreign entity.
“A conservatory order is hereby issued restraining the Respondents from establishing, operationalising, facilitating, approving or permitting the establishment and/or operation of any Ebola exposure, quarantine, isolation or treatment facility in Kenya pursuant to any arrangement with the United States of America or any foreign government or agency pending the inter-parties hearing of this application,” the court order stated.
The court further restrained the respondents from admitting, transferring, receiving or facilitating the entry into Kenya of persons exposed to or infected with Ebola under the contested arrangement pending the hearing of the case.
The petition, supported by an affidavit sworn by Nora Mbagathi on May 28, 2026, argued that there was an imminent threat to life if the conservatory orders were not granted. Justice Mande noted that public interest favoured the issuance of interim orders.
The court directed the petitioner to serve the respondents with the application and petition within 24 hours, while the respondents were ordered to file their responses within 48 hours of service. The applicant was also granted leave to file a further affidavit within one day after receiving the responses.
The matter will be mentioned on June 2, 2026, for further directions.
The ruling comes amid heightened public debate and concern over reports of a planned Ebola-related quarantine arrangement involving foreign governments following outbreaks reported in neighbouring countries.
The order was issued under Tracking Number OONPXU2026 and signed by Hon. Lady Justice Patricia Mande at the High Court Constitutional and Human Rights Division in Nairobi.