A protest against an Ebola quarantine in western Kenya turned violent on Tuesday, leaving at least three people dead and a dozen injured. The unrest, which erupted in the town of Busia near the Ugandan border, has prompted the British High Commission to issue a security warning for UK aid workers in the region.
The demonstration began after local residents objected to the enforcement of a 21-day quarantine imposed by Kenyan health authorities following the confirmation of an Ebola case in the area. Witnesses reported that police used live ammunition to disperse the crowd, a claim that authorities have denied. Kenya’s Interior Ministry stated that officers fired tear gas and warning shots but that the casualties resulted from clashes among protesters.
The deceased include a woman and two men, all believed to be residents of the quarantine zone. Hospitals in Busia confirmed they treated 14 people for injuries, four of whom remain in critical condition. The outbreak, confirmed last week, marks the first Ebola case in Kenya since 2014.
The British High Commission in Nairobi issued a statement advising UK nationals, particularly those working on health and humanitarian projects, to avoid non-essential travel to Busia County. The travel advisory warned of a volatile security situation and the potential for further protests.
Ebola, which causes severe haemorrhagic fever, has a fatality rate of up to 90 per cent. The current strain, the Sudan variant, has no approved vaccine. Containment efforts in Kenya have been hampered by community mistrust, a legacy of past epidemics and government mismanagement.
The incident underscores the delicate balance between public health imperatives and civil liberties, a challenge that aid organisations and diplomats in the region now confront directly.
