High Court Halts Kenya’s Planned Ebola Quarantine and Treatment Facilities Amid U.S. Partnership Dispute
The court also barred the entry of Ebola-exposed or infected persons into the country under the disputed plan pending the hearing of a petition filed by the Katiba Institute.
File image of the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi. Photo.Courtesy
By Ruth sang
The High Court has put a temporary halt on the government, barring it from setting up or going ahead to run any Ebola exposure, quarantine, isolation, or treatment facility in Kenya, in any deal that involves the United States government, or any other foreign state or agency.
In the interim orders, the court also barred the government from admitting, moving, taking in, or helping the entry into Kenya of people who are exposed to Ebola, or who are already infected, under the same disputed arrangement , until the case is heard and decided.
The conservatory orders were issued after the High Court certified as urgent a petition filed by the Katiba Institute , which is challenging the alleged agreement between Kenya and foreign governments, including the United States , about how Ebola cases are going to be managed.
“The orders shall remain in force pending the inter-partes hearing of the application,” the court directed.
The petitioner was also told to physically serve the Notice of Motion and the petition on all respondents within 24 hours , while the respondents were ordered to file and serve their responses within 48 hours after that service.
The matter will be brought back later for more directions, once everyone meets the court timelines, as stated.
For now, these temporary orders end up suspending the government’s plans to create Ebola-related quarantine, isolation, or treatment facilities, or to facilitate the arrival into the country of Ebola-exposed or infected persons, under that contested framework, until the case is fully processed.
The court action arrives just days after the United States government said it would commit $13.5 million (about Ksh. 1.75 billion) to support Kenya’s Ebola readiness efforts, at a time when regional watch systems are tightening over a continuing outbreak.
A statement attributed to U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with President William Ruto about the outbreak and steps meant to strengthen the public health response.
“The United States Government intends to commit $13.5 million toward Kenya’s Ebola preparedness efforts and has already committed to providing $112 million in bilateral assistance to the regional response,” the statement said.
Those talks were also said to look at getting essential medical supplies for Kenya, and also beefing up the country’s capacity and response capability, in case Ebola cases show up.
About Author
