At least six people have been killed and dozens wounded in escalating protests in the Kenyan city of Kisumu, where demonstrators have clashed with security forces over the government's handling of an Ebola outbreak. The violence, which erupted on Monday, has prompted British aid organisations to review their security protocols and consider suspending operations in the affected regions.
According to local officials, the protests began after reports that a suspected Ebola case was quarantined in a local clinic without adequate protective equipment for medical staff. The incident has fuelled long-standing mistrust in the public health system, which many residents view as underfunded and ill-prepared. Demonstrators accuse the government of prioritising foreign interests over local safety, a charge that the Ministry of Health denies.
The Kenyan government has defended its response, stating that the patient was immediately isolated and that international health protocols were followed. However, eyewitnesses describe a chaotic scene outside the clinic, with security forces using live ammunition to disperse a crowd of several hundred people. The death toll is expected to rise as hospitals report overwhelming numbers of injured.
British aid workers, who have been involved in containing the outbreak since it was first detected last month, have expressed grave concerns over their safety. In a statement from Nairobi, the UK's Department for International Development (DfID) confirmed it was reviewing security arrangements for its staff and contractors. One senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: "The situation is deteriorating rapidly. Our teams are essential for controlling the spread of Ebola, but we cannot operate if the local environment becomes hostile."
The protests come at a critical juncture in the outbreak response. The World Health Organization has reported 37 confirmed cases and 12 deaths from Ebola since the outbreak began six weeks ago. The virus has spread across three counties, and health workers have struggled to trace contacts due to community resistance. The UK has pledged £5 million in emergency aid and deployed a team of 20 specialists to support Kenyan health authorities.
Analysts suggest that the violence could undermine containment efforts. "The breakdown of trust between the public and health authorities is a dangerous development," said Dr. Alice Mwangi, a public health expert at the University of Nairobi. "If aid workers are forced to withdraw, we might see an exponential increase in cases."
The Kenyan government has called for calm and imposed a curfew in Kisumu. Police have been authorised to use force to maintain order. Meanwhile, opposition leaders have accused President William Ruto's administration of mismanagement and called for an independent inquiry into the clinic incident.
The UK Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for Kenya, warning against all but essential travel to Kisumu and surrounding areas. British nationals in the region have been advised to stay indoors and avoid large gatherings.
This is not the first time that Ebola response efforts have been interrupted by civil unrest. In 2014, similar protests in West Africa delayed containment and contributed to the largest outbreak in history. International health experts urge both sides to de-escalate and resume dialogue. Without a secure environment for healthcare workers, the outbreak risks becoming uncontrollable.
