Activist protest over the proposed Ebola quarrantine facility in Laikipa./FILE

A proposed US-funded Ebola treatment and quarantine facility near Nanyuki has come under intense public scrutiny, with a new national survey showing that 69 per cent (about 7 in 10) of Kenyans opposed the project.

The findings by Tifa Research released on September 9, 2026 point to widespread concern over the facility, with respondents raising questions about national sovereignty, public health and the interests the project is intended to serve.

The survey was conducted between June 13 and June 22, 2026, using a nationally representative sample of 2,048 respondents drawn from nine zones: Central Rift, Coast, Lower Eastern, Mt Kenya, Nairobi, Northern, Nyanza, South Rift and Western.

Data was collected through face-to-face household interviews, conducted mainly in Swahili, with English also used. The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.18 percentage points, although the margin was higher for smaller sub-samples.

Among respondents who viewed the facility negatively, 28 per cent said they believed it was primarily intended to serve US interests and treat foreign patients rather than protect local communities.

On June 1, 2026, a section of Nanyuki residents took to the streets to protest the proposed establishment of a US-linked Ebola virus quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base.

Hundreds of youth and community members marched through the town carrying placards and tree branches, demanding the complete cancellation of the project.

The demonstrators expressed concerns that the facility could expose local communities to serious health risks and increase the possibility of an Ebola outbreak in the region.

Protesters insisted that the project should be abandoned altogether rather than merely suspended.

“It is the Ebola facility they plan to construct here that we do not want,” one demonstrator said during the march.

Videos and images from the scene showed large crowds moving through major streets, with some protesters blocking roads as they voiced their opposition to the proposed facility.

The finding has fuelled concerns over whether Kenya should host a high-containment facility intended to handle patients evacuated from regional hotspots or foreign missions.

Another 17 per cent of respondents linked their opposition to fears of official corruption, citing concerns over possible secret deals and a lack of transparency around the project.

The survey findings also point to an information gap surrounding the proposed facility.

Limited public information about the project's safety measures, bio-containment standards and protections for surrounding communities has contributed to concerns among members of the public.

The opposition comes amid wider questions about how decisions involving foreign-funded health projects are made and the extent to which affected communities are involved.

The findings suggest that concerns about the facility extend beyond its location, with respondents questioning its purpose, the interests it would serve and the transparency of the process leading to its proposed establishment.

The proposed centre has therefore become a focal point for concerns over public participation and accountability in major health projects involving foreign partners.

The survey highlights the challenge facing authorities as they seek to address public concerns over the facility and explain its intended role.

For the proposed project to gain wider public acceptance, the findings point to the importance of addressing questions surrounding its purpose, safety and transparency.