“We are crafting a diploma programme and for us a Diploma programme takes short so if they want us to start immediately, then I see it being rolled out in January 2026. We will start with a diploma before we go to a degree one. It will need new students,” Shibairo said.
Gumbe said the collaboration is a long-term initiative that will include partnerships in carrying out research, not only in nuclear programmes but also areas of its application including agriculture, medicine, engineering and weather forecasting among other fields.
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Nuclear and Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) chairman Prof Lawrence Gumbe (L) and Masinde Muliro University VC Prof Solomon Shibairo (R) during a meeting in the VC’s boardroom on Wednesday /IMAGE /HILTON OTENYO
The Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) has signed an
MoU with Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology in Kakamega to
develop workforce for the nuclear industry.
The programme is meant to train people in preparation for
the upcoming construction of the first ever nuclear power plant in Siaya county
in 2027.
The plant will require over 10,000 nuclear grade workers
ranging from plumbers, masons and engineers among other specialists.
NuPEA chairman prof Lawrence Gumbe, chief executive officer
Justus Wabuyabo and Masinde Muliro University Vice chancellor Prof Solomon
Shibairo signed the collaborative framework in Kakamega on Wednesday.
Gumbe said the collaboration is a long-term initiative that
will include partnerships in carrying out research, not only in nuclear
programmes but also areas of its application including agriculture, medicine,
engineering and weather forecasting among other fields.
“This collaboration will provide opportunities for Kenyans
to train in nuclear energy technology to support the rollout of the programme
in the country,” Gumbe said.
“We’re excited because we shall be doing research to further
our nuclear programmes together with a premier institution like Masinde Muliro,
being a university where research is done. We hope to work together to produce
quality programmes especially in areas of nuclear and petroleum,” he said.
He assured Kenyans on the safety of nuclear, noting that its
construction is undertaken under the guidance of the International Atomic
Energy Agency which takes into account stringent safeguards.
He said nuclear energy is safer than believed by masses,
adding that fatalities from nuclear power is at 0.03.
Shibairo said the
framework provides for the institution to develop programmes and curriculum to
train people with capacity to work in the nuclear industry as the country seeks
to move towards clean, cheaper and safe energy.
The VC said nuclear technology is widely used in everyday
life and that most people have at one time interacted with the technology
during x-ray services and MRIs noting that its applications extend in many
areas including agriculture, medicine.
“When you are doing an x-ray, even when people do Nuclear
Magnetic Resonance, scanning is all nuclear technology and so there’s no
reasons for fears about deployment of the technology,” he said.
Wabuyabo said the agency has already signed an MoU with Pwani
University and another will be signed with Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of
Science and Technology, Kisumu polytechnic and other tertiary institutions on
nuclear manpower development.
Wabuyabo said the government is pursuing the latest nuclear
technology and will partner with all stakeholders and make them the
ambassadors.
He said the agency is actively engaging the public through
public participation forums about the nuclear power plant urging the university
to be ambassadors of the programme.
“We are also going to engage with youth groups, church
groups and also use the national leadership structures so that we can get up to
the grassroots and have a conversation with the people to let them know about
this technology and assure them that it is safe and secure,” the CEO added.
