Former Chief Justice David Maraga has accused President William Ruto of hypocrisy over Kenya's Ebola quarantine policy, Capital FM reported. In a statement on Thursday, Maraga said the government had once defended plans to host a facility for foreign nationals exposed to Ebola. Now it says the opposite.
His criticism targets Health CS Aden Duale. On Wednesday, Duale announced that Kenya would not serve as a quarantine destination for any other jurisdiction. Maraga asked why the government had defended the proposed centre and sent police against protesters if Kenya never had an obligation to host such facilities.
"President Ruto sold out Kenya's safety, sovereignty and dignity to serve American interests," Maraga said. He called the government's current position hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy. Maraga leads the United Green Movement (UGM) party. He also said the government had adopted the protesters' position without acknowledging the deaths or explaining how they happened.
The June protests in Laikipia targeted a planned 50-bed isolation and quarantine facility. It was meant for US citizens possibly exposed to the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola during outbreaks in DR Congo and Uganda. Residents and local leaders asked why Kenya, which had no Ebola case at the time, should carry the health and economic risks. According to Capital FM, two people were reportedly shot dead in the first clashes. A third death was reported days later, and several demonstrators and bystanders were injured.
Questions over accountability remain. Capital FM reported that police have yet to give a substantive public account of their response. The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) documented the deaths of Charles Mang'aro Mwangi, Sylvester Muigai Ndung'u and a third unidentified victim. It has not given a substantive public update on its ballistic and witness investigations. The Law Society of Kenya has separately accused IPOA of stalling probes into alleged rights abuses during protests and police operations.
Maraga spoke as the Ministry of Health said Kenya had discharged its last Ebola patient. The final 11 contacts were released after the 21-day observation period. Kenya confirmed its first imported Bundibugyo case on October 6 and recorded nine confirmed cases in one cluster. All 135 identified contacts were traced and monitored.
The 42-day countdown began on Thursday. Under WHO guidelines, Kenya could be declared Ebola-free around December 23 if no new infections are reported. Duale said Kenya remains open for business, tourism, trade and travel, with no limits on movement or public gatherings. He urged countries that imposed travel or visa restrictions on Kenya to review them.