• Protests in Kenya against a US Ebola quarantine facility resulted in tear gas being used by police.
• Residents accuse the US of offloading Ebola risks and express concerns about health safety.
• Two fatalities were reported during protests prior to the recent clashes over the facility's construction.
• The US aims to treat Americans potentially exposed to the virus at the 50-bed center in Nanyuki.
• The facility's construction continues despite a Kenyan court order halting the project.

Protests erupted in the central town of Nanyuki, Kenya, where police fired tear gas to disperse crowds opposing a U.S. government plan to establish a quarantine center for Americans exposed to Ebola. The facility, which is set to accommodate 50 beds at Laikipia Air Base, has been met with significant backlash from locals who feel the U.S. is transferring potential health risks to Kenya. Demonstrators conveyed their opposition by carrying a coffin labeled "Ebola" and holding placards, with some chanting that Kenya is not a "dumping site" for disease, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

Last week, protests turned violent, resulting in two fatalities. Furthermore, several protesters were arrested during the latest demonstrations, which were fueled by frustrations surrounding the construction of the quarantine center despite a High Court order intended to halt the project. Police continued to clash with crowds on Tuesday, with demonstrators questioning why Kenya should host a facility intended for a virus they have not encountered, according to BBC and Africanews.

The quarantined facility aims to treat Americans who exhibit no symptoms after potential exposure to Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). U.S. officials have stated that patients developing symptoms would be referred to other countries for care. However, this has not alleviated public concern in Kenya, especially given that the DRC is currently facing an outbreak with over 600 confirmed cases and 102 deaths. Protesters are echoing sentiments that the U.S. should manage its health crisis domestically instead of transferring it to Kenya, as reported by Al Jazeera and Africanews.

President William Ruto has defended the quarantine facility as a necessary collaboration with the U.S., emphasizing the longstanding partnership in health matters. Ruto's administration insists the center is not solely for Americans but will also serve Kenyans and foreign nationals. The U.S. has pledged substantial financial support for the country's Ebola preparedness in acknowledgment of the fears present within local communities, according to Reuters and BBC.