Kenya’s First Nuclear Facility Sparks Protests and Concerns

A proposed nuclear facility on the coast of Kenya’s Kilifi county has ignited fierce opposition from local communities and environmentalists. Protesters took to the streets on Friday, October 11, to express their concerns over the project, which is expected to be completed by 2034.

The facility, expected to generate 1,000 megawatts of power, has received widespread criticism for its potential environmental and health impacts. “We say that this project has a lot of negative effects, there will be malformed children born out of this place, fish will die, and our forest Arabuko Sokoke, which is known to harbour birds from abroad, will be lost,” said Francis Auma, a human rights activist.

Moreover, the plant’s budget of 500 billion Kenyan shillings (approximately $3.9 billion) has raised eyebrows. Critics point out that this amount could be used to generate more than 2,000 megawatts of power, but instead, it will only produce a fraction of that capacity for just 60 years. “Five hundred Billion can generate more than two thousand megawatts. Why are we using it to generate only a thousand for only sixty years then it’s finished? While we have renewables that can last a lifetime for generations to come,” argued the Executive Director of the Centre for Justice Governance and Environmental Action.

Resident concerns about the plant’s impact on the local environment and tourism have also been voiced. “I have been a fisherman for twenty years, I survive by fishing, and if they erect a nuclear plant here the breeding sites for fish will all be destroyed and won’t exist,” said local fisherman Timothy. Many residents in the area rely on fishing and tourism for their livelihoods, and they fear the plant will disrupt the marine ecosystem and pose a risk of radiation.

Kenya’s Nuclear Power and Energy Agency has dismissed concerns about the project, stating that it will prioritize the safety and security of people and the environment before construction begins in 2027. However, locals and environmentalists remain skeptical, calling for greater transparency in the decision-making process.

With the plant’s construction still years away, concerns about its impacts on the local community and environment are likely to continue. One thing is certain, however, the debate surrounding Kenya’s first nuclear facility is far from over.