Kenya’s Minister of Health, Aden Duale, has put a stop to the development of the U.S.-supported Ebola quarantine center at Laikipia Air Base. This decision comes after he was found in violation of a court order for permitting work to continue despite previous judicial instructions. Duale presented himself before the High Court in Nairobi on Tuesday, stating that he had ordered “the immediate and complete cessation of any intended construction, site preparations or related activities” pertaining to the facility. “It was never the intention of the ministry or myself as the Cabinet Secretary to disregard, undermine, or act in defiance of the orders,” he stated. Duale also assured the court that he would be “the last person to disregard a court order” and “the last person to violate any constitutional order given by any court.” Last month, the White House confirmed that the U.S. was establishing a health facility in Kenya to accommodate Americans who had been exposed to Ebola in areas affected by the ongoing outbreak. According to the health ministry of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, there are at least 1,048 confirmed cases of Ebola, resulting in 267 fatalities. In Uganda, UNICEF reports 20 confirmed cases with two deaths.
An administration official mentioned at the time that the U.S. was creating a “state-of-the-art facility” in Kenya through a collaborative effort involving the Departments of State, Health and Human Services, and War. The official further elaborated that the 50-bed facility’s objective would be to “provide access to high-quality care for Americans who would need to quickly get out” of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for quarantine, suggesting it would mitigate the “risks of a lengthy transport back to the U.S.” This initiative had the support of Kenya’s President William Ruto. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously asserted that no Ebola cases would be permitted entry into the U.S. The proposal sparked protests, with hundreds taking to the streets. During one demonstration, at least two individuals lost their lives, and others sustained injuries. Merely days after the White House disclosed the plans, a Kenyan court issued a temporary injunction against the proposal. Kenyan High Court Judge Patricia Nyaundi upheld this decision, instructing the Kenyan government to halt all construction and operational activities at the base while the legal matter is being resolved. ABC News acquired high-resolution satellite images revealing that the construction project was in progress despite the court’s directives. On Monday, Duale was found in contempt of court for failing to cease the construction of the facility. The court accepted Duale’s apology on Tuesday and released him with a warning, indicating that he would face sentencing if there was any indication of further disobedience of its orders. The injunction prohibiting construction has been extended until a hearing scheduled for July 23. “Today was an important moment for justice in Kenya,” Nora Mbagathi, executive director of Kenya’s Katiba Institute, an organization opposing the U.S. facility plan, told ABC News. “By appearing in court and confirming that construction of the quarantine facility has been halted, Duale has affirmed the government’s recognition that they are not above the Constitution,” the statement continued. “His apology to the Court and the people of Kenya is an important moment not just for our courts but for our democracy and rule of law.” ABC News’ Camila Alcini, Emily Chang, Nicholas Kerr, Christopher Looft, Luis Martinez, and Zoe Magee contributed to this report.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com