STATEMENT
NAIROBI, 16 JUNE 2026: Amnesty International welcomes the announcement by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Health, Aden Duale, that the Government of Kenya has suspended the construction of the proposed US government-funded Ebola Quarantine Facility in Nanyuki, Kenya, in compliance with the court order issued pending the determination of the case.
Respect for court orders is fundamental to the rule of law and constitutional governance. Article 10 of Kenya’s Constitution identifies the rule of law as a national value and principle binding upon all state organs, state officers, and public officers. Compliance with judicial decisions is not optional; it is a constitutional obligation. We therefore welcome the Kenyan government’s commitment to abide by the court’s directive and urge all state agencies involved in the project to ensure full adherence to the order until the matter before the courts is conclusively determined.
We are, however, alarmed by reports that Kenyan police used unlawful, excessive force against residents protesting against the construction of the facility, resulting in the deaths of three protesters, including a 17-year-old student, and injuries to others. Article 26 of Kenya’s Constitution guarantees every person’s right to life. The use of lethal force against individuals exercising their human and constitutional right to peaceful assembly and protest is unacceptable and must never be normalized.
A government cannot claim to be establishing a facility intended to save lives while lives are being lost through unlawful police action. Respect for human life cannot be selective. Every death must be accounted for, every allegation of excessive force must be investigated, and every officer responsible, including those who commanded or authorized unlawful actions, must be held accountable,”
said Amnesty International Kenya Director George Morara.
The Trump administration is encouraging the breakdown of respect for the rule of law not just domestically but in other countries as well. Expecting Kenyan President William Ruto to ignore his own system’s court order is enabling authoritarian practices,”
said Kate Hixon, Africa Advocacy Director at Amnesty International USA.
Amnesty International strongly condemns the killings of protesters in Nanyuki and calls upon the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to expedite independent, impartial, and transparent investigations into all reported deaths and injuries arising from the protests. Those investigations must extend beyond the officers who directly used force and, where applicable, establish command responsibility. Any officer or commander found responsible for ordering, facilitating, authorizing, covering up, or failing to prevent unlawful actions should be held fully accountable through the criminal justice system.
We further call for the immediate and unconditional release of all individuals arrested solely for peacefully protesting against the construction of the facility. Peaceful protest is protected under Articles 37 and 38 of Kenya’s Constitution and must not be criminalized. The authorities must guarantee the rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly without intimidation, arbitrary arrests, or violence.
The concerns raised by residents of Nanyuki and Laikipia County regarding the proposed facility deserve meaningful engagement rather than repression. While agreements concerning international cooperation and public health infrastructure may be negotiated at the state level, accountable governance requires that affected communities be informed, consulted, and heard. Citizens cannot be coerced into endorsing bilateral agreements or development projects that they genuinely perceive as harmful to their welfare, safety or livelihoods.
Indeed, the Kenya–United States Strategic Partnership Framework recognizes citizen engagement, democratic participation, accountable governance and respect for human rights as essential pillars for achieving shared development, governance and economic objectives. These goals cannot be achieved when legitimate public concerns are met with force rather than dialogue.
We further note that United States law contains important human rights safeguards regarding cooperation with foreign security forces. Under the Leahy Laws, the United States Government is prohibited from providing assistance to foreign security force units when there is credible information implicating those units in gross human rights violations unless effective remediation measures are taken. Allegations of unlawful killings and excessive use of force against protesters must therefore be investigated thoroughly and transparently, with accountability measures implemented in accordance with both domestic and international human rights standards. At this critical moment, both governments must demonstrate their commitment to the rule of law, transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights.
ENDS
Media Contact Kenya: Mathias T. Kinyoda Mobile: +254 786 725434 Email: [email protected]
Media Contact USA: Jason Patinkin: Email: [email protected]