Description: Kenya’s police forces shot and killed two protesters in the latest upsurge of civic unrest against the proposed US plan to establish Ebola quarantine centers in central Kenya. Protesters gathered around the Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki where the quarantine centers with 50 – bed capacities were planned to be built and were announced by President Wiliam Ruto last month. Ruto’s plan in coordination with the US government, faced severe backlash considering the widespread Ebola pandemic in the DR Congo. Kenya has not registered any Ebola patients despite continued testing, however, neighboring Uganda has declared 11 cases and one death. Ruto defended the plan, stating that quarantine centers would serve not only the Americans but also Kenya’s domestic population and every other patients that would test positive on the virus. Kenya’s High Court halted the opening of the center amid protests deeming it illegal importation of health risk.
Impact: Ruto’s illegal insistence to go forward with the plan despite an existing Court decision banning the centers and upsurge in civic unrest would likely further deteriorate the situation in Kenya. The current form of the protests are reminiscent of last year’s anti – government protests that could potentially reoccur in case President Ruto decides to remain adamant on pushing forward with the plan for the quarantine centers. The country is also facing a prolonged economic crisis, unemployment and civil liberty crisis that could likely compound the current protests and spread nationwide at a larger scale. Currently, there are no plans to stop the construction of the quarantine centers which likely signals a prolonged civic crisis that could easily escalate.