Residents in Uyombo Village, Kilifi County, are increasingly opposed to the proposed nuclear power plant and are calling on the government to abandon it.
Plans by the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) to construct a 1,000 MW nuclear power plant in Uyombo have led to widespread protests. Residents and environmental groups are raising concerns about the plant’s potential environmental and social impacts.
The project, with an estimated budget of Ksh 500 billion, is part of Kenya’s strategy to increase energy security and provide a reliable base load for industrialization through nuclear power, which is considered a low-carbon energy source.
While the government emphasizes the need for additional power to fuel industrial growth, questions arise regarding the country’s existing renewable energy capacity, which currently exceeds 80%. Although Kenya generates the majority of its electricity from renewable sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower, these options are considered either intermittent or vulnerable to climate-related challenges, like the recent droughts affecting hydropower generation.
Experts have recommended thorough research, consultation, and review before committing to nuclear energy, warning that the overall cost of building and maintaining a nuclear plant could far exceed initial estimates and face significant technical challenges.
Kenya’s push towards nuclear energy is influenced by the global trend of major economies, such as Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, investing in nuclear power as part of their energy strategies. This trend signals a technological shift that many view as the future of global energy production.
Conservation Concerns Among Locals
The proposed location for the nuclear plant is near the Arabuko Sokoke Forest, one of East Africa’s last remaining coastal forests, and a UNESCO biosphere reserve. This region is renowned for its rich biodiversity, which includes the nearby Watamu Marine National Park and Mida Creek’s mangrove ecosystem.
The area provides livelihoods for local communities, including tourism workers, fishermen, beekeepers, and butterfly farmers who depend on the forest and marine ecosystems. Residents have heightened their protests with slogans on banners indicating ‘sitaki Nuclear’ a Swahili word that means ‘I don’t want Nuclear’.
Abbas Athman, a resident living near the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, highlights the economic importance of these ecosystems. “Butterfly farming thrives because of the forest,” he explains, adding that the trees attract the butterflies that sustain his livelihood. The forest and its surrounding ecosystems are not only critical to the local economy but also serve as cultural and ecological assets for the community.
Residents fear that constructing the nuclear power plant will lead to the displacement of Uyombo villagers from their ancestral lands, severing their connection to these ecosystems and their traditional sources of income. Many in the community, particularly fishermen, view the project as an existential threat to their way of life.
Community members, supported by organizations such as the Right Energy Partnership with Indigenous Peoples (REP), the Centre for Justice, Governance, and Environmental Action (CJGEA), and Friends of Lake Turkana, have condemned the government’s use of force against protesters.
They have called for meaningful public participation in decision-making processes related to the project, insisting that the government respects the autonomy and cultural heritage of affected communities.
Health and Environmental Concerns of Nuclear Power Plants
Nuclear power plants rely on uranium, a highly toxic substance that poses long-term health risks, including cancer and genetic mutations. In the event of an accidental release of radioactive material, the surrounding environment could suffer severe contamination, leading to irreversible ecological damage and long-lasting health effects on local populations.
Given the region’s rich biodiversity and sensitive ecosystems, local organizations have raised alarms about the potential for thermal pollution and ecological disruption, which could endanger wildlife and destabilize critical habitats.
They also call for the government to ratify the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage, which would offer some protection to communities in the event of a nuclear power plant accident.
Advocates argue that a comprehensive radioactive waste management framework and robust safety policies are necessary to protect local communities. “The sea is our lifeline,” says Elisha Bombosho Mzee, head of beach management in Uyombo Village.
“If this plant is built, it will affect our fishing industry, which supports not just us, but fish dealers, market vendors, and even the hospitality sector. We do not need a nuclear plant here,” he said.
