Kenya: Ruto defends the U.S. quarantine center in the country for Ebola patients after protests

A court in Kenya has blocked a quarantine center planned for U.S. citizens, as the public staged protests against the facility, President Ruto urged people to “calm down.”

The Kenyan court today, Tuesday, issued another order to block a quarantine center where the U.S. is holding U.S. citizens, established in the country.

The controversial plan to build a 50-bed facility at an airbase in the town of Nanyuki sparked protests this week. The protest on Monday at the site where the center is to be opened resulted in the deaths of 2 people.

The people of Kenya are greatly concerned about those brought to the center who may have the deadly Ebola virus.

“I can assure the people of Kenya that the agreement between the Kenyan government and the U.S. government is beneficial for our country and cooperation,” said Kenyan President William Ruto. “We are a responsible government. We know what we are doing. So people should calm down.”

Last week, a court temporarily halted the plans for the center after a public advocacy group filed a lawsuit alleging that the center was being built secretly.

Today, Judge Patricia Nyaundi of the Kenyan High Court issued an order prohibiting the Kenyan government from taking further steps to commence operations at the center before the case is resolved.

She also ordered the government to disclose the agreement it made with Washington within seven days.