Two people shot dead amid Kenya protests against US Ebola quarantine centre plan

The US plan has sparked public anger and led to demonstrations near the site of the proposed treatment facility. Two people shot dead amid Kenya protests against US Ebola quarantine centre plan Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. The US plan to establish an Ebola quarantine centre has sparked concerns in Kenya A protester holds a small Kenyan flag along a road with a fire burning and groups of protesters gathered in the background Two people have been shot dead in the central Kenyan town of Nanyuki amid protests against US plans to establish an Ebola isolation centre at a military base nearby, the BBC has learnt. One of the victims was shot in an area close to the Laikipia Airbase where a demonstration was taking place. He died after being brought to the town's hospital by friends. The other victim was already dead when he was taken to the hospital by soldiers. The circumstances of their deaths are not clear, and officials have not commented on the matter. A police spokesman told the Reuters news agency he was not aware of any deaths. On Monday, hundreds of demonstrators marched through the town's streets, blocking roads and burning tyres, with police firing tear gas to disperse them. Community leader Patrick Wahome told the BBC that one of those who died was shot when he "was heading home after closing his business". The BBC has been unable to confirm the circumstances in which the second man died. Both bodies, which are in the hospital morgue, appear to have gunshot wounds - one in the chest and the other on the shoulder. The town was calm on Tuesday morning and there was a heavy security presence on the streets. The US plan to establish an Ebola treatment facility in Kenya has sparked public concern about cross-border infection risks. The 50-bed isolation centre is to be staffed by US medics and is intended to treat US citizens affected by the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kenya has not recorded any Ebola cases so far. Last Friday, the High Court said the opening of the centre should be halted after a rights group opened a case alleging the facility posed "grave and imminent risks" to public health. Last Friday, the High Court said the opening of the centre should be halted after a rights group opened a case alleging the facility posed "grave and imminent risks" to public health. Speaking for the first time about the issue on Monday evening, President William Ruto defended the plan saying that Kenya had "deployed every arsenal" to protect the country. He told journalists that the US government had requested Kenyan support in dealing with the virus, which he had promptly accepted, describing it as a "mutual agreement". "When President [Donald] Trump asked Kenya to support them by having a centre in Laikipia Airbase I gave the ok because it was an agreement with friends who have walked with Kenya for 30, 40 years," he said. He called on Kenyans not to politicise a matter "so serious" as Ebola, asking politicians to avoid "reckless" talk about it. "We are a responsible government. We know what we are doing," he added. The High Court on Tuesday extended the suspension, ordering the government to disclose the details of the proposed Ebola facility. Military aircraft have been seen flying in and out of the airbase in what experts say is ongoing preparation despite the court order. Kenya's doctors' union and government watchdogs have opposed the plan saying it risks exposing local populations. A medic checks the temperature of a woman, using a contactless infrared thermometer. Only the arm of the medic, who is wearing white, is shown. The woman having her temperature checked has her hair in braids. She is wearing a bright blue top with a pattern and is standing next to a blue wooden door with a white and blue building in the background. What is Ebola and why is stopping the latest outbreak so difficult? A health worker in full PPE - white suit and green rubber gloves - crouched on the right of a wooden coffin with gold handles How health workers in DR Congo are treating Ebola and staying safe The image depicts a group of individuals dressed in full-body protective suits, complete with face masks, goggles, and bright orange gloves. Their attire suggests they are engaged in a high-risk operation, likely involving hazardous materials or infectious disease control. They are working outdoors in what appears to be a forested or rural environment, with greenery and natural terrain surrounding them. The scene conveys a sense of urgency and seriousness, as the protective gear is designed to minimise exposure to dangerous contaminants. 'Speed, money and compassion' - lessons from an Ebola survivor and other experts A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic BBC News Africa Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica A 50-bed isolation unit in Kenya for US citizens was due to open on Friday, a US official said. Sixteen pupils died in the fire that ripped through a dormitory while they were asleep. Several parents were still waiting for news of their children roughly 12 hours after the fire. Passed by MPs, the bill proposes prison sentences for people identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community. There are currently no approved drugs that target Bundibugyo - the species of Ebola responsible for this outbreak. The two patients had recently returned from the DR Congo and Uganda respectively. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's party is expected to dominate the election as conflicts overshadow the vote. IAVI, Moderna and the University of Oxford are all working on new vaccines.