Kilifi MCAs disown nuclear plant, say they're in the dark

The plant is facing stiff opposition from residents and environmentalists, who fear it will expose them to hazardous radioactive waste and affect their health and livelihoods.

Led by minority leader Tom Chengo, the Tezo MCA said the ward reps have not been involved in the project, thus the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency is wrong to force the project on people.

“As a county assembly, we don’t know anything about the plant because we have not been involved,” he said.

“We only hear that Nupea is coming. Anything that is of benefit to the people has to come though the proper channel.” 

He said the county assembly members must look at all the parameters involved before allowing the project to be brought to the people. 

On Tuesday, Nupea chief executive Justus Wabuyabo told the Star they have been and continue to engage with the community and other stakeholders to ensure all arising issues are properly addressed.

“We recognise a nuclear power plant is a unique project which requires that all persons involved are educated about it and if there are any concerns they are addressed,” he said.

But Chengo said they are among the key stakeholders because they represent the people right at the grassroots, yet they have not been involved.

Nupea says it has conducted different training sessions about nuclear power for different groups of people including journalists, religious leaders and community members.

The Tezo MCA said that could be true because the community members are adults with their own decision-making capabilities.

“We, as leaders, cannot prevent them from attending any training. What we want is the agency to involve us as the local representatives of the people,” he said.

Centre for Justice, Governance and Environmental Action executive director Phyllis Omido has been on the forefront in opposing the power plant, saying there are plans to build it in a Unesco biosphere area.

“This area is nestled between the Arabuko Sokoke Forest and the Watamu marine park. How do you put up a nuclear power plant right in the middle? It does not make sense,” she said on Monday.

However, Wabuyabo said mitigation measures will have to be put in place, before the start of construction of the plant in 2027 after meeting all safety and security requirements set out by the International Atomic Energy Agency, a specialised UN agency that deals with all nuclear issues.

These may include, if need be, relocation of the nuclear power plant.

“For the time being, we are proceeding because, from the sitings done, the area is not within Unesco’s Arabuko Sokoke Forest,” he said.

The Nupea boss said they will not risk the lives of Kenyans.