The High Court has summoned Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to appear before it on June 23, over contempt of court linked to a controversial Ebola facility in Laikipia.

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Justice Patricia Nyaundi issued the directive after the court found that existing conservatory orders on the project may have been violated, with construction reportedly continuing despite earlier restrictions issued by the court.

Documents seen by Kenyans.co.ke revealed that the matter stems from a contempt application filed by Katiba Institute , which sought the court’s intervention over the implementation of the project, which is understood to involve a US-backed Ebola quarantine facility.

"Justice Patricia Nyaundi ruled that the government has deliberately violated existing conservatory orders by allowing construction to continue on the proposed US-backed Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base," stated Katiba Institute.

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"The Court has summoned CS Duale to appear in court tomorrow, June 23, at 11:00 am to explain the failure to comply with the previous court orders."

In its findings, the court noted that relevant documents relating to the project had been disclosed. However, concerns were raised regarding the absence of environmental and social impact assessments and safety contingency plans within the disclosed records.

Katiba Institute argued that the continuation of construction in defiance of court orders undermines the authority of the judiciary and violates constitutional requirements on public participation and environmental safeguards.

The court is set to examine whether the state complied with its earlier orders stopping or restricting further work on the site pending full legal and environmental compliance.

The facility in question is a US-backed Ebola quarantine facility being built at Laikipia Air Base, a project that has sparked fierce legal and public debate across Kenya.

The court found that construction continued even after orders were issued to halt it, a move that legal experts say amounts to a brazen disregard for judicial authority.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke