Kenyan police fire tear gas at protest against US Ebola quarantine centre plan

Protesters are concerned about cross-border infection risks and the lack of transparency from the government about the treatment centre. Kenya police fire tear gas at protest against US Ebola quarantine centre plan in Nanyuki Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Protesters say there is a lack of transparency over the building of the quarantine centre Protesters carry a white coffin, with the word "Ebola" in red paint on the side. They are also holding placards saying - in Swahili - "we reject Ebola" and - in English: "Public trust requires transparency". Kenyan police fire tear gas at protest against US Ebola quarantine centre plan Police in Kenya have fired tear gas to break up a protest in the central town of Nanyuki against the construction of an Ebola quarantine centre for US citizens. Small groups of demonstrators, who were waving Kenyan flags, carrying placards and holding a coffin with the word "Ebola" written on the side, were demanding the plan be reversed. Last week, two people died after being shot as police dispersed similar protests. Last week, two people died after being shot The US plan has sparked public concern about cross-border infection risks and the lack of transparency from the government about the treatment centre. Last month, the High Court said the opening of the facility should be halted after a rights group opened a case alleging it posed "grave and imminent risks" to public health. the High Court said the opening of the facility should be halted after a rights group opened a case alleging it posed "grave and imminent risks" to public health. Protester Priscilla Imani told the Reuters news agency that the US plan has affected Nanyuki and the wider Laikipia county with people being afraid to visit. "My message is this, Laikipia is not a dumping site and our voices must be heard," she said. The proposed 50-bed isolation centre is to be staffed by US medics and is intended to treat Americans affected by the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A US official told the BBC that Kenya was selected due to "proximity, airports in the region having limited capability, and to ensure Americans can be treated in a timely manner". The Congolese city of Bunia, the epicentre of the outbreak, is 780km (485 miles) from Nanyuki, with Uganda separating DR Congo and Kenya. DR Congo has so far recorded some 600 confirmed Ebola cases and 100 deaths. President William Ruto defended the plan saying he had received a request from the US to establish the centre and a refusal would be "inhuman". He called on Kenyans not to politicise a matter "so serious" as Ebola, asking politicians to avoid "reckless" talk about it. Satellite imagery seen by the BBC show that construction has continued at the airbase despite the court halting it. The US official last week said the administration was aware of the court case but "optimistic we can resolve objections". A medic checks the temperature of a woman, using a contactless infrared thermometer. Only the arm of the medic, who is wearing white, is shown. The woman having her temperature checked has her hair in braids. She is wearing a bright blue top with a pattern and is standing next to a blue wooden door with a white and blue building in the background. What is Ebola and why is stopping the latest outbreak so difficult? A health worker in full PPE - white suit and green rubber gloves - crouched on the right of a wooden coffin with gold handles How health workers in DR Congo are treating Ebola and staying safe The image depicts a group of individuals dressed in full-body protective suits, complete with face masks, goggles, and bright orange gloves. Their attire suggests they are engaged in a high-risk operation, likely involving hazardous materials or infectious disease control. They are working outdoors in what appears to be a forested or rural environment, with greenery and natural terrain surrounding them. The scene conveys a sense of urgency and seriousness, as the protective gear is designed to minimise exposure to dangerous contaminants. 'Speed, money and compassion' - lessons from an Ebola survivor and other experts A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic BBC News Africa Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica The decision weakens Rigathi Gachagua's bid for the presidency, although his lawyers have vowed to challenge the ruling. Activists allege there is a plan to build a car park on protected land belonging to a wildlife sanctuary. Malawi is among several African nations transporting their citizens out of the country following reports of violence against migrants. There are now 380 confirmed cases of Ebola in DR Congo, far lower than initial estimates of suspected cases, writes Fergus Walsh. An outbreak of Ebola in DR Congo involves a rare species of the virus and is in an area affected by conflict. The US plan has sparked public anger and led to demonstrations near the site of the proposed treatment facility. There are currently no approved drugs that target Bundibugyo - the species of Ebola responsible for this outbreak. The two patients had recently returned from the DR Congo and Uganda respectively.