Kenya has agreed to the establishment of a quarantine center on its territory for American citizens exposed to the Ebola virus. This information was confirmed to RFI on Thursday, May 28, 2026, by a source close to the Kenyan health authorities. The day before, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had promised that "no cases of Ebola will enter the United States."

Construction of the quarantine infrastructure has reportedly already begun in Laikipia, in the center of the country, where there is a military base of the Kenyan Defence Forces.

According to sources close to the matter, the creation of this facility, reserved for American citizens exposed to the Ebola virus, was decided last week. However, a disagreement has arisen between the United States and Kenya. Nairobi wanted to open the center to all nationalities, while the White House preferred to prioritize American citizens.

Neither country has publicly confirmed the creation of this infrastructure yet. However, in separate communications, their authorities have mentioned "ongoing discussions."

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The center's announcement is causing division in Kenya

Meanwhile, Kenyan President William Ruto continues to consult with other partners. He notably convened the diplomatic corps in Nairobi on Thursday afternoon to discuss "a comprehensive approach […] to the Ebola outbreak."

In Kenya, the announcement of this center has sparked division. Part of the scientific community sees it as an opportunity to improve the country's response infrastructure. Several civil society organizations, however, fear a potential spread of the virus in Kenya, which has yet to record a single case.

The United States, for its part, announced new funding of $80 million to support the response to the epidemic. An initial allocation of $50 million had already been released.