Kenyan police have fired tear gas and water cannon at hundreds of protesters demonstrating against a quarantine centre for Americans exposed to Ebola that the US has raced to build despite Kenyan court orders barring further work.
The proposed 50-bed unit at the Laikipia Air Base has angered many Kenyans, who accuse the US of offloading the risk of caring for those exposed to the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
Two people were killed on June 3 in protests in the central town of Nanyuki, where frustration has grown as Kenyan and US authorities publicly reaffirm their commitment to the plan.
On Tuesday, police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters who had gathered in different parts of the town, which is next to the air force base.
Some waved Kenyan flags and one carried a white cross emblazoned with the phrase "Reject Ebola" in red.
Officers detained at least 10 protesters, a Reuters witness said.
Protester Priscilla Imani said the area's association with the quarantine facility was scaring away tourists who typically come to climb Mount Kenya or see rhinoceroses at a nearby nature conservancy.
"My message is this: Laikipia is not a dumping site and our voices must be heard," she told Reuters.
Several US citizens have been exposed to Ebola in eastern Congo and Uganda, where there have been more than 500 confirmed cases and 100 confirmed deaths from the outbreak declared last month.
Six, including one who tested positive for the disease, were moved to a medical facility in Germany in May, while another was taken to the Czech Republic.
US President Donald Trump's administration has said it "cannot and will not allow" any Ebola cases to enter the US.
The Nanyuki facility is designated for Americans who have been exposed to the virus but are still asymptomatic. Patients with symptoms would be sent to other countries, US officials have said.
A High Court judge has twice issued orders barring Kenya's government from taking steps to build or begin operations at the site.
Her latest order gave the government one week to disclose all agreements and operational protocols related to the facility.
Joshua Malidzo, a lawyer challenging the quarantine plan on behalf of the Katiba Institute legal advocacy group, said the court's deadline expired on Monday without the government complying.
Many protesters directed their anger at President William Ruto, with some chanting "Ruto must go!"
The president said his administration was doing "the right thing" by establishing the centre.
