Police fired tear gas and live rounds at demonstrators in Nanyuki opposing a planned 50-bed facility for Americans exposed to Ebola.
7:04 PM
Kenyan police shot and killed a protester Tuesday during demonstrations in the central town of Nanyuki against a proposed quarantine centre designed to isolate US citizens exposed to Ebola.
Patrick Wahome, a protest organiser, told Reuters the man died from a gunshot wound to the head. Reuters reporters saw the body lying motionless in a police van with a large head wound. The Red Cross reported that at least one other person was injured by a tear gas canister fired by police. Dozens of people were arrested during the clashes.
The proposed 50-bed facility is to be built at Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki, approximately 200 kilometres north of the capital, Nairobi. The centre would be managed by US staff and would house Americans exposed to Ebola in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where an outbreak is ongoing.
Hundreds of protesters gathered near the air base on Tuesday, waving Kenyan flags, carrying placards, and holding a coffin with the word "Ebola" written on it. Some demonstrators wore protective medical uniforms. Protesters established barricades, lit fires, and hurled stones at police officers. Law enforcement responded with tear gas, water cannons, and gunfire to disperse the crowds.
Kenyan residents have expressed strong opposition to hosting the quarantine centre. Kenya has never recorded a case of Ebola, and many oppose the idea of bringing potential carriers of the highly contagious virus into the country. Protesters accuse the United States of shifting the health risks associated with caring for those exposed to the outbreak onto Kenya.
The US government has been racing to complete construction of the facility despite Kenyan court orders barring further work on the project. A police spokesperson said he did not have information about the shooting incident.
Last week, two people died after being shot as police dispersed similar protests in Nanyuki. Running battles between demonstrators and law enforcement continued throughout Tuesday in the town.
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