A National Assembly committee has dismissed objections raised by the public about the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Uyombo, Kilifi County, indicating that the project must proceed.
The National Assembly Committee on Environment, Forestry and Mining, which has been meeting in Mombasa since Tuesday to deliberate on the matter, said that even though the Uyombo residents who were consulted by the committee opposed the project, it must go ahead.
The committee's chairperson, Mr Vincent Musyoka, said that the public needs to be explained to and convinced of the importance of setting up the plant in the coastal region.
“They need to know it’s not as bad as it seems but since nobody has conducted proper public participation, allowing the civil society to drive a certain narrative that has been entrenched in peoples mind, it has become very difficult for us to proceed,” he said.
The Sh500 billion, 1,000-megawatt power plant is intended to boost Kenya’s electricity supply.
Mr Musyoka said that Kenya’s hydro and geothermal resources cannot produce more than 10,000 megawatts, so the country must find an alternative source of base load that can produce cheap and stable power.
He urged all critical stakeholders to visit the site and explain to affected residents how the construction will impact them.
“The only stable power that can support industries is either nuclear or coal power plants. It is necessary, we need to be prepared because we have looked at our sources of energy. I have served as the chair of the Energy Committee, I understand the sector. I am an engineer and I know even if we were to exploit all our sources of energy, they are almost depleted,” he claimed.
The Mwala MP urged the Uyombo community not to be deceived by civil society into opposing the project that could transform the local and national economies.
He urged the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) to provide the community with the correct information to enable them to make well-informed decisions.
However, the committee declined to meet NuPEA officials who had arrived in Mombasa, after the agency’s Chief Executive Officer, Justus Wabuyabo, failed to appear.
The committee members accused energy agency and the Principal Secretary for Environment, Festus Ngeno, of failing to consult residents, which has led to misinformation.
“This is a critical matter, which must be looked at thoroughly so that we arrive at a middle ground. A proper public participation will ensure the community understands because there are a lot of gaps in understanding the merits and dangers associated with this project that has caused a lot of problems with the community,” said Mr Musyoka.
However, members of the civil society, some Kilifi leaders and the Uyombo community insist that the project is unwanted in the region.
A view of Uyombo shopping centre in Matsangoni, Kilifi County.
Photo credit: File | Nation
Elizabeth Kariuki, the director of the East Africa Hub of Natural Justice, an organisation dealing with environmental and social issues, said that there are no safeguards for the community if the project goes ahead.
“Our findings have shown that the project does not align itself with our national policies about climate adaptation in mitigation if the nuclear power plant is established,” she explained.
Ms Kariuki said that exploring nuclear energy is one of the most expensive projects, which would burden Kenyans.
She advised that some renewable energy sources have not yet been exploited and should be explored before Kenyans are put at risk.
“Nuclear energy has a bigger cost in the disposal of waste. We should explore cheaper sources of energy such as solar, wind, and geothermal, which are untapped,” she explained.
Mr Anthony Kingi, a resident of Uyombo, said that they are not interested in the nuclear plant for health reasons.
He argued that the government is forcing things on Kenyans, who are already suffering from heavy taxation.
“We also need the National Environment and Management Authority to come and explain the plans they have for the people of Uyombo. All the critical stakeholders should stop playing cat and mouse game,” said Ms Mbeyu.
