The Atheists In Kenya Society strongly opposes any plan by the United States government to transfer Ebola-exposed or Ebola-infected individuals to Kenya for quarantine or treatment.
Recent international media reports indicate that the U.S. government is considering establishing a quarantine and treatment facility in Kenya for Americans exposed to Ebola during the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
We find this proposal deeply troubling, reckless, and disrespectful to the people of Kenya.
If the United States possesses advanced medical infrastructure and world-class infectious disease facilities, there is absolutely no justification for outsourcing such a dangerous public health burden to Kenya. The apparent decision to keep Ebola patients away from American soil while expecting Kenya to absorb the risk reflects global inequality and double standards in international health policy.
Kenya’s healthcare system is already under immense strain. Our hospitals continue to face shortages of personnel, equipment, medicine, and emergency preparedness resources. It is irresponsible for foreign governments to view Kenya as a convenient dumping ground for high-risk medical cases simply because we are an African country.
We reject any arrangement negotiated in secrecy without full public participation, parliamentary oversight, and transparent scientific assessment. The Kenyan government has a constitutional duty to prioritize the health and safety of Kenyan citizens above foreign geopolitical interests.
The Atheists In Kenya Society further warns against attempts to frame this arrangement as “global cooperation” while the actual burden and risk fall disproportionately on poorer nations. Genuine global solidarity means wealthy countries taking responsibility for their own citizens and investing in strengthening healthcare systems everywhere — not exporting dangerous situations to vulnerable countries.
We call upon the Government of Kenya to:
- Publicly reject any plan to host Ebola quarantine or treatment facilities for foreign patients.
- Release full details of any ongoing discussions with the U.S. government regarding Ebola-related cooperation.
- Prioritize investment in Kenya’s own public health preparedness and disease surveillance systems.
- Ensure that all public health decisions are guided by science, transparency, and the interests of Kenyan citizens.
Kenyans must not be treated as expendable in global health politics.