A man was shot during a protest in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa against the construction of a US-funded Ebola quarantine centre, local police and witnesses said on Monday. The incident underscores growing tensions over foreign involvement in Kenya's public health infrastructure.
The protest, organised by a coalition of local activists and opposition figures, drew several hundred demonstrators to the proposed site of the centre in the Kisauni district. Demonstrators carried placards reading "No to US Ebola camps" and "Stop medical colonialism".
Police said they fired warning shots after the crowd became hostile and attempted to breach a cordon. One protester was struck in the leg. He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, where his condition was described as stable. Seven other people were arrested for unlawful assembly and resisting arrest.
The quarantine centre, backed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is part of a broader effort to bolster East Africa's preparedness against potential Ebola outbreaks. However, local suspicions have been fuelled by misinformation on social media, including false claims that the centre would be used for forced medical experiments or to permanently detain locals.
Kenya's Ministry of Health issued a statement reaffirming the centre's purely medical purpose and emphasising that all projects are conducted in partnership with Kenyan authorities. "The facility will operate under strict Kenyan oversight and international health regulations," the statement said.
The shooting is likely to deepen mistrust between the government and some communities, particularly in coastal areas where grievances over marginalisation and foreign influence run deep. Analysts say the incident could further complicate efforts to combat infectious disease outbreaks through international cooperation.
"There is a clear need for better communication and community engagement before such projects break ground," said a public health expert who spoke on condition of anonymity. "Without building trust, even well-intentioned health interventions can backfire."
This is not the first setback for the quarantine centre. In January, construction was delayed after local leaders raised concerns about land rights and environmental impact. The US embassy in Nairobi declined to comment on the shooting but reiterated its commitment to public health partnerships in the region.
As of Tuesday, the area around the proposed site remained quiet, with a visible police presence. The Health Ministry has promised a full investigation into the shooting.
