David Maraga questions govt ‘hypocrisy’ after U-turn on Ebola quarantine policy

Nairobi, Kenya - Former Chief Justice David Maraga has slated President William Ruto for hypocrisy over the government's stance on Ebola quarantine facilities, following a reversal in their position. As Kenya nears its 42-day deadline for declaring itself Ebola-free, Maraga questioned why the government had previously championed hosting a quarantine centre for foreign nationals exposed to Ebola, but now claims it won't accommodate such facilities.

Maraga criticized Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale's announcement on Wednesday that Kenya would no longer serve as a quarantine destination, labeling the government's stance as a betrayal of Kenya's safety, sovereignty, and dignity. He accused Ruto of sacrificing Kenya's interests to cater to American interests by selling out the country's safety and dignity.

The protests against the planned US-linked isolation centre in Laikipia earlier this year left two young Kenyans dead when police opened fire on demonstrators. Maraga cited the government's disregard for public opposition to the proposed centre, which was intended to house US citizens potentially exposed to Ebola during outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) has faced criticism for its slow and lack of transparency in investigating the deaths, with the Law Society of Kenya accusing the authority of stalling investigations into alleged human rights violations. The Ebola outbreak in Kenya began on October 6, with nine confirmed cases in a single transmission cluster, all 135 contacts traced and monitored.

Kenya is expected to be declared Ebola-free around December 23, provided no new infections are reported.