The United States has defended plans to establish an Ebola quarantine and treatment facility in Kenya, arguing that the country's proximity to regional outbreak zones makes it a strategic location for emergency response efforts.
Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, June 2, Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services under President Donald Trump, said Kenya was selected largely because of its location near the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where Ebola outbreaks have periodically occurred.
According to Oz, the primary objective is to ensure patients receive urgent medical attention as close as possible to outbreak areas instead of being transported long distances for treatment.
“The main issue with having a facility close to DRC is if a patient is sick, I want to take the patient to the operating room that is right next door to where they are, not several buildings or countries away because time is precious,” he said.
Oz noted that rapid response remains critical in managing highly infectious diseases such as Ebola, where delays in treatment and isolation can significantly increase health risks. He added that the U.S. government remains confident ongoing discussions with Kenya will produce an agreement that allows the project to proceed.
The senior U.S. official revealed that extensive consultations had already taken place between American and Kenyan authorities regarding the proposed facility. He also cited Kenya’s established international partnerships, security infrastructure, and strategic position within the region as factors supporting its suitability for the project.
“There is a U.K. base there. We have other partners who may be willing to work with us, including our German colleagues,” Oz stated.
While acknowledging that alternative locations remain available, he maintained that moving potentially infected individuals across continents would be impractical and medically risky.
The remarks come amid growing opposition to the proposal, particularly in Laikipia County, where protests against the planned facility have intensified. Demonstrators have raised concerns about public safety, potential health risks, and the decision to host an Ebola-related facility in Kenya.