Kenyan Health Minister Aden Duale has been found guilty of contempt of court for his blatant disregard of a High Court order to halt construction on a controversial Ebola quarantine facility.
The project, which is backed by $13.5 million in American aid, was intended to house US citizens suspected of contracting Ebola, but the site has become a flashpoint for civil unrest.
Despite a clear judicial mandate to stop work, the government attempted to circumvent the ruling by claiming the construction was being carried out solely by the Kenyan state in the national interest.
Lady Justice Patricia Nyaundi rejected this transparent attempt to dodge the law, stating that a court order is a command to be obeyed, not an invitation for bureaucratic maneuvering. The project has faced intense opposition from local medical unions and residents, leading to violent protests in Nanyuki that have resulted in three deaths.
While President William Ruto has defended the facility as a humanitarian necessity, critics argue that Kenya should not be used as a containment zone for foreign pathogens. As the government continues to push the project forward, the legal consequences for Minister Duale are set to be determined at his sentencing.
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