NAIROBI — Kenya's High Court found Health Minister Aden Duale in contempt of court on Monday for failing to halt construction of an Ebola quarantine facility. The court ordered Duale to appear on Tuesday for sentencing.

Lady Justice Patricia Nyaundi stated that Duale knew and understood that all construction at the Nanyuki site had to stop, but he allowed it to continue. Nyaundi added that a court order is not an invitation to ingenuity but a command to be obeyed. The court had previously directed the government to suspend construction of the facility, located at the Laikipia Air Base near Nanyuki, pending a case filed by the Law Society of Kenya and the Katiba Institute. The facility is intended for United States nationals exposed to the Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Residents living near the air base reported seeing U.S. military aircraft land after the court issued its suspension order on May 29.

President William Ruto defended the project, stating that the U.S. and Kenya have a long-standing partnership in health and security matters. Ruto added that the Laikipia facility is one of 24 preparedness centers established to respond to potential Ebola outbreaks. He said he gave approval for the site because it was an agreement with friends who have walked with Kenya for 30 to 40 years. Ruto called on Kenyans not to politicize the matter and asked politicians to avoid reckless talk about it. The U.S. has pledged approximately $13 million toward the partnership, with Washington intending to provide $13.5 million for Kenya's Ebola preparedness efforts. This amount is part of a larger $112 million U.S. commitment for the regional response to the outbreak.

Aden Duale told parliament earlier this month that the government would not stop the facility. The U.S. Embassy in Kenya stated the quarantine center posed no risk to local residents. The Embassy also said the U.S. was aware of the court action and was actively working with the Kenyan government to resolve any objections. Contempt of court carries a maximum fine of 200,000 shillings ($1,500) or six months in jail, or both.

At least three people were killed by gunfire during protests against the facility, including 17-year-old schoolboy Sylvester Muigai Ndung'u, who witnesses said was shot in the head. Police stated they were awaiting post-mortem results to determine the cause of Ndung'u's death. The Katiba Institute argued that Kenya's healthcare system is already overstretched and may be unable to manage foreign Ebola patients safely. Kenya had not recorded any Ebola cases as of Monday. The Ebola outbreak was confirmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo in May, where the World Health Organization reported 896 confirmed cases and at least 232 deaths as of June 17. At least 75 healthcare workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo contracted the virus, with 17 deaths recorded. Uganda reported 19 confirmed Ebola cases, including two deaths.