Katiba Institute Files Petition Accusing Govt of Defying Court Orders on Ebola Facility

Katiba Institute has filed an urgent contempt of court application at the High Court in Nairobi accusing the Kenyan government of defying court orders related to the establishment of a United States-backed Ebola quarantine and treatment facility in Kenya.

The petition was filed jointly by Katiba Institute and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) against the Attorney General, the Cabinet Secretary for Health, and the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.

The case also lists KELIN Kenya, environmentalist Mercy Mathai, activist Mwangi Maingi, the County Government of Laikipia, and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) as interested parties in the proceedings.

According to court documents dated June 10, 2026, Katiba Institute argues that the government has continued with the construction and development of the Ebola facility despite existing conservatory orders issued by the High Court.

Ebola Facility Barred From Being Constructed

Katiba Institute says the court, on May 28, 2026, barred the respondents from establishing the facility under any arrangement between Kenya and the United States.

“Despite explicit court orders mandating the suspension of all plans to establish, operationalise, or approve the facility, construction and development have illegally continued,” said Katiba Institute.

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The court further reaffirmed the order on June 2 2026, and directed the Ministry of Health to disclose documents related to the project.

This included agreements, safety protocols, and other information considered necessary to determine the legitimacy and safety of the proposed facility.

Certificate Of Urgency

In the application, Katiba Institute claims the respondents have failed to comply with the disclosure orders and have continued engaging with United States counterparts in advancing the project.

The certificate of urgency, signed by advocate Joshua Malidzo Nyawa, states that the respondents’ actions amount to “openly, wilfully, deliberately, and contumaciously” disobeying court directives.

The application further argues that continued disobedience of court orders risks undermining the authority of the judiciary and public confidence in the judicial process.

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Katiba Institute is now seeking immediate intervention from the High Court to address the alleged contempt and enforce compliance with the conservatory and disclosure orders already issued.

The government has not publicly responded to the latest court application by the time of publication.

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Ebola PPE
PHOTO/Talk Africa