AfriPulse
The Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) has announced fresh public engagement plans following opposition over the planned construction of Ksh500 billion nuclear facility in Siaya County.
In a statement on Saturday, May 23, NuPEA said it would respect the concerns raised, insisting that public participation remains a constitutional requirement and a key part of the country’s nuclear energy programme.
“As the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency, we hear and respect the voices of the residents of Siaya. Public participation is not a mere procedural formality. It is a constitutional right,” the agency stated.
The agency revealed that it is now shifting from high-level institutional planning to what it described as deep, village-level grassroots sensitisation aimed at educating local communities about the project.
Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) CEO Justus Wabuyabo.
KNA
NuPEA Chief Executive Officer Justus Wabuyabo assured residents that no infrastructure would be developed without what it termed the broad, informed consent of the community.
“We wish to assure the public that the stakeholder engagement process is firmly ongoing. We are moving from high-level institutional planning into deep, village-level grassroots sensitisation,” said Wabuyabo.
He further pledged that the agency would conduct a transparent and multi-layered educational campaign to address f ears surrounding nuclear safety, land issues, and the possible impact on livelihoods.
The announcement comes hardly two days after protests erupted in Sakwa village, Bondo sub-county, in Siaya County, as residents rejected the proposed nuclear plant.
Videos widely shared on social media on May 21 showed hundreds of residents gathered at the venue, chanting and shouting as they opposed the project.
The protesters carried banners bearing messages such as “We Reject” , insisting on their strong opposition to the proposed multi-billion-shilling government project.
Chaos and loud confrontations reportedly engulfed the meeting, even as a moderator attempted to calm the residents during what appeared to be a public participation forum.
The Ksh500 billion project is expected to be financed through a mix of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), combining government resources and private-sector investment in a bid to reduce the burden on taxpayers while attracting international expertise.
Construction of the plant is scheduled to begin in 2027, with the Siaya county government already expressing support and goodwill toward the project.
A screengrab of Siaya residents protesting against a nuclear plant scheduled to be constructed in the county on May 21, 2026
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Source: Kenyans.co.ke | Read the Full Story…
