Man shot during protest against proposed US Ebola quarantine facility in Kenya

Police use teargas to disperse demonstrators in Nanyuki, 120 miles from Nairobi, amid rising anger at US plans

A man has been shot in the head during a protest in a town in central Kenya against a proposed Ebola quarantine facility for US citizens.

Photographs from the scene appeared to show a person lying motionless on the ground. Dozens of people had gathered near Laikipia airbase, the proposed site of the centre in Nanyuki, 120 miles from the capital, Nairobi, some wearing protective equipment and carrying a coffin with “Ebola” written on it.

Several people were arrested and police used teargas to disperse the small crowds. Protesters have said they oppose the centre partly on the grounds that they do not want potential carriers of the highly contagious disease on Kenyan soil.

There has been rising nationwide anger in recent weeks. Two people were killed during a protest in the town on Monday last week .

The US government plans to send 30 medical personnel to staff the Nanyuki facility, which, if completed, will have 50 beds.

After a petition by the Kenyan nonprofit Katiba Institute, a Nairobi court late last month temporarily blocked the establishment of the facility and the admission into the country of people exposed to Ebola.

Last week, it barred the Kenyan government from proceeding with the plan before the case is resolved. The next hearing is due on 23 June.