One person has been shot dead and more than 50 protesters arrested on the second day of demonstrations against the proposed U.S-backed Ebola quarantine facility in Nanyuki, Laikipia County.
The protests began early Tuesday, June 9 morning near Laikipia Air Base, where residents had planned to stage peaceful demonstrations and present a proposal demanding the relocation of the facility. However, police blocked protesters from accessing the site, leading to running battles that lasted throughout the day.
Business activities were disrupted across Nanyuki Town, several schools remained closed, and roads were barricaded as demonstrators lit bonfires and clashed with security officers. Police deployed tear gas and water cannons in efforts to disperse the crowds.
Residents accuse authorities of using excessive force and insist they will continue protesting until the facility is relocated, citing concerns over its proximity to homes, schools and the town centre.
KHRC condemns ‘excessive force’
The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has since condemned the arrest of the protesters, accusing police officers of using excessive force and violating constitutional rights.
In a statement issued on the same day, the rights lobby group claimed that hooded police officers deployed fired live ammunition and detained demonstrators who had taken to the streets to demand transparency over the project.
“Hooded police officers deployed in Nanyuki, Laikipia, fired live bullets and arbitrarily arrested 19 protesters as of 11 am today,” KHRC said.
The controversial project, intended to quarantine individuals exposed to Ebola, remains the subject of legal challenges despite a High Court order suspending its implementation pending further disclosure by the government.
