The Kenya Association of Physicians (KAP) has raised concerns over the government’s reported plans to establish an Ebola quarantine and treatment facility in Kenya to manage patients on behalf of the United States government, citing what it describes as serious biosecurity risks and a lack of stakeholder engagement.
In a statement signed by President Eric Njenga, KAP said it was alarmed by the absence of transparency surrounding the initiative and the exclusion of infectious disease specialists and physicians from the decision-making process. The association argued that medical experts should have been consulted before any such arrangement was considered.
According to KAP, the Ebola strain reportedly under consideration poses a significant threat because it currently has no known vaccine or treatment. The association further noted that diagnostic capabilities for the strain remain limited, with no validated testing tool available.
“KAP believes such a facility introduces an alarming biosecurity threat to the republic,” the statement said, warning that even with the best containment measures in place, the possibility of exposure to surrounding communities could not be entirely eliminated.
The physicians’ body also questioned the rationale behind the reported agreement, arguing that the United States possesses more advanced containment infrastructure and specialized treatment centres. KAP said it was difficult to understand why Kenya would assume the risk if the disease was considered too dangerous to be managed within U.S. borders.
The association called on the government to immediately halt the process, prioritize national health security, and engage local medical experts before making any decisions on the matter.