The United States has moved to reassure Kenyans that a controversial Ebola bio-isolation facility being established in Laikipia poses no threat to nearby communities, even as legal challenges, public concern and questions about transparency continue to surround the project.
In a statement issued on June 2, the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi said it was working closely with the Kenyan government to address concerns raised over the facility and to explain its role in the regional response to an ongoing Ebola outbreak.
“We are aware of the court action filed in Kenya and are actively working with the Kenyan government to resolve any objections and communicate our shared objectives to the Kenyan people,” the embassy said.
The statement comes amid growing scrutiny of the facility, which has become the centre of a heated national debate over public health, sovereignty and Kenya’s role in international disease response efforts.
According to the U.S. government, the facility is designed to support efforts to contain Ebola and strengthen preparedness in East Africa at a time when neighbouring countries are battling outbreaks and health authorities remain on high alert.
“The bio-isolation facility in Laikipia is part of a holistic response to prevent spread of the disease and lessen health risks for the region as a whole; it does not pose risk to nearby communities,” the embassy said.
The United States and Kenya have maintained a close health partnership for decades, collaborating on programmes targeting HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other public health threats. American officials say the Ebola response is a continuation of that long-standing cooperation.
“The United States and Kenya share a historic health partnership that over decades has benefitted both Americans and Kenyans,” the statement read. “Our joint response to the current Ebola outbreak is a natural extension of our longstanding cooperation.”
Health experts involved in the response say the facility is intended to provide controlled isolation capacity for individuals who may have been exposed to the virus, helping prevent transmission while supporting testing, surveillance and emergency preparedness efforts.
The embassy said the broader response extends beyond Laikipia and includes support for border screening, laboratory testing, disease surveillance and preparedness measures in counties considered vulnerable to infection.
Officials also revealed that the programme includes expanded capacity to isolate and test asymptomatic individuals involved in the response effort, including international health workers. The goal, they said, is to reduce the risk of wider transmission while ensuring Kenya’s healthcare resources remain available for local patients.
The U.S. government emphasized that it remains the largest financial contributor to Ebola response efforts in the region. According to the embassy, direct American assistance has exceeded $162 million (approximately KSh20.9 billion), while additional funding continues to support emergency operations across affected countries.
Washington further noted that it has contributed $350 million (about KSh45.1 billion) through humanitarian funding channels supporting emergency response activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan.
Officials said the strategy is focused on containing the outbreak before it spreads across borders.
“The Department has provided funding to stop the outbreak at its source and prevent Ebola from reaching Kenya or the United States,” the statement said.
The embassy’s defence of the facility comes as court proceedings challenging the project continue and public debate intensifies. Critics have questioned the level of public participation surrounding the project and demanded greater disclosure about agreements reached between Nairobi and Washington.
Despite those concerns, both governments insist the facility is safe, tightly controlled and necessary to strengthen regional preparedness against one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases.
As the legal battle unfolds, Kenyan and American officials say they will continue working together to address public concerns while maintaining cooperation aimed at preventing a wider Ebola crisis in the region.
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