KILIFI, Kenya – In a stance against the proposed nuclear power plant in Uyombo village, Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro has voiced his opposition, joining Kilifi North MP Owen Baya and Kilifi Woman Representative Gertrude Mbeyu in rejecting the project.
This collective opposition highlights significant public participation, safety, and environmental impact concerns.
Governor Mung’aro criticized the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) for failing to conduct adequate public participation and failing to convince the community of the project’s benefits.
“People wonder why I have been very quiet on the nuclear power plant proposal in Uyombo,” Mung’aro stated.
“When the CS and NuPEA came to my office, I told them to go to the ground and talk to my people. NuPEA failed to convince the people, and the residents declined to have the plant constructed. So I have no option but to also heed what my people say.”
Mung’aro further accused the nuclear agency of insincerity and lack of transparency.
“They have not had any public engagement in Uyombo. We have seen nuclear power plants cause massive destruction in other countries. We cannot accept such a plant to be built in our country,” he asserted, urging NuPEA to consider alternative locations.
Kilifi North MP Owen Baya echoed these concerns, pointing out NuPEA’s failure to effectively engage with the local community.
“When NuPEA first came here, they asked if they could be given time to talk to the citizens to get their opinions about setting up a nuclear plant there,” Baya recalled. “However, the work that NuPEA has done has been to exclude some citizens. There are those citizens they want to talk to and those they do not.”
Baya emphasized the need for detailed Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), Socio-Economic Impact Studies, and public participation reports to make an informed decision about the project.
“Since 2021, we have given NuPEA the opportunity to do this work for all those years,” he said. “However, the work that NuPEA has done has been to exclude some citizens.”
NuPEA CEO Justus Wabuyabo defended the agency’s efforts, stating that public participation is an ongoing process.
“In our strategic plan, public participation is in three phases, and we are entering the second phase,” he said. “We have held meetings with locals and we are planning to engage them more.”
Kilifi Woman Representative Gertrude Mbeyu stressed the risks associated with nuclear power, arguing that Uyombo residents should not be forced to accept such dangers.
“We don’t want this nuclear plant in Uyombo or anywhere in Kilifi county,” Mbeyu declared. “We have read about nuclear power plants and now know the truth they are keeping from us.”
Mbeyu highlighted the long-term dangers of radioactive waste, which can remain hazardous for thousands of years, and criticized NuPEA for not properly explaining these risks to residents.
