Kenya's Health Minister Aden Duale has halted the construction of a controversial US-funded Ebola quarantine facility in the country a day after he was found in contempt of court for ignoring a judge's ruling.

🌐 Here's What Happened

Appearing in court on Tuesday, Duale apologised and said he had "directed the immediate and complete cessation" of building work at a military base in the town of Nanyuki.

Last month, the High Court ruled the construction of the 50-bed isolation centre should stop until a case brought by a rights group could be heard.

But on Monday, a judge ruled that Duale had ignored the order and allowed the project to continue.

📌 Key Details

The quarantine facility is intended for US citizens who are suspected to have contracted Ebola in the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"I sincerely regret any action or omission, misunderstanding or misinterpretation that may have resulted in non-compliance of the order of this court or created the perception thereof," Duale added.

High Court Judge Patricia Nyaundi accepted Duale's apology saying the minister was "discharged with a stern warning".

BBC Verify analysis of satellite imagery of the site from Planet Labs taken on 20 June shows more tents had been put up there since 8 June and more surface covered with what looks like tarmac or crushed stone.

A dirt road around the site appears to have been paved. More land has been cleared of vegetation along the western and southern edges of the site where at least eight white objects which could be small tents or vehicles can be seen.

The plan to construct the quarantines centre has sparked a series of angry protests in Nanyuki, which is about 140km (87 miles) north of the capital, Nairobi, during which three people have died as police attempted to disperse the demonstrators.

📰 Source: BBC Africa