A court in Kenya has temporarily blocked plans by the United States to establish an Ebola quarantine facility within the East African nation’s borders.
High Court Judge Patricia Nyaundi issued the suspension order late Thursday, also prohibiting Kenya from accepting any individuals who have been exposed to or infected with Ebola under the proposed arrangement with the United States. The temporary ban will remain in place until a legal challenge to the agreement is resolved.
The White House announced Thursday that the United States planned to establish the Kenyan facility to isolate American citizens who had encountered Ebola exposure. Under the proposal, these individuals would not be returned to American soil if they showed symptoms, but would instead be transported to a third nation.
The Katiba Institute, a Kenyan rights organization, filed the legal challenge on Thursday to block the facility’s creation.
“The secretive, unilateral establishment of an Ebola quarantine facility raises grave constitutional concerns regarding the rights to life, health, fair administrative action, public participation, and parliamentary oversight,” the rights group said.
Judge Nyaundi scheduled the next court proceeding for June 2 to continue hearing arguments in the case.
