Kilifi residents raise concerns over proposed nuclear power plant

Residents of Uyombo in Kilifi county are are opposing the construction of a nuclear reactor in the area for fear of eviction and destruction of the marine ecosystem.

Residents depend on fishing for their livelihoods and the area is home to Watamu Marine Park, the first marine protected area in Africa.

Resident Anthony Kingi said the nuclear agency did not factor in the fragility of the marine ecosystem before settling on the Uyombo location.

“This area has some fish species and corals that are not found anywhere else in the world. It is a nesting area for turtles and a mating ground for migratory birds. We also have dolphins here. This is a Unesco biosphere reserve hence we have to protect it,” he said.

Kingi said Uyombo is a fishing village and depends on the ocean for survival.

"The construction of the nuclear reactor here means people will be relocated and livelihoods lost. We are not ready to lose our land,” he said.

Kingi said the power plant also threatens the existence of the Watamu Marine Park and reserve, which was established in 1968.

He questioned the ability for the country to handle nuclear waste.

“As a country, we cannot manage simple solid waste. If you walk in Kenyan towns, you will see a lot of waste. If we cannot manage this then how will we manage nuclear waste,” Kingi added.

Janet Katana, a resident and marine conservationist, said the government has not held a meeting in Uyombo to tell people about the plan to put up the power plant.

She said more than 20 schools will be affected by the nuclear reactor.

“Our rights are being infringed. We have very little information about the whole thing. We are afraid we will lose our land and everything in it. We have palm trees that are over 20 years old. Where will we go. How will we survive?” she posed.

She also accused Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA) of handpicking a group of people from the community to act as a committee.

“These are the people who are taken to hotels and later they are paid allowances. They are the same people betraying us,” she said.

Uyombo beach management unit secretary Elisha Mzee said fishing in the area will be affected by the nuclear reactor.

“The area where they want to put up the reactor there is a school. The only girls’ high school in Matsangoni. We do not want this project here. We have very little information and we are rejecting this project,” he said.

Kahindi Kombe from Roka beach management unit said their more than 200 members will have no fishing ground as the area will be an exclusion zone.

“We have no equipment to do deep sea fishing. We are artisanal fishermen and we do our business in shallow waters. Let the government consider its stand before a whole generation is wiped out,” he said.

NuPEA Coast region manager Kenneth Anakoli said the plant may need about 35 acres.

He said the exclusion zone where no one is allowed to live is 1.6 kilometres from the centre of the nuclear reactors.

“After that people can live around but they are not allowed to set up heavy industries,” Anakoli said.

The community has formed the Kenya Anti-Nuclear Alliance (Kana) in partnership with environmental rights organisations.

Phylis Omido from Centre for Justice, Governance and Environmental Action (CJGEA) said government projects that are preceded by carelessness and violations of human rights leave a heavy health and environmental burden on communities.

“From my experience working on the environment and human rights in Kenya, I know for a fact that state agencies have failed to mainstream community rights to life, a clean environment and socio-economic rights," she said.

"My movement in the area is meant to protect the community from the carelessness that lead to loss of lives in Owino Uhuru. Nuclear is a very sensitive venture.” 

Omido said Kenya has not put in place measures to safeguard the community in case of radioactive exposure to nuclear.

“There currently exists no treatment for radiation in Kenya, so how can we venture into nuclear without any safeguards for people and the environment? Further Kenya has untapped potential for renewable energy projects that do not leave a burden of radioactive waste for future generations,” she said.

Nuclear Power and Energy Agency director of communications and public relations Bassett Buyukah said they are yet to settle on the exact location in Uyombo.

He said the agency will engage the whole community on the pros and cons of the project.

“The community gave us a committee that we are working with. We plan to conduct public participation. We are in the process of establishing a meteorological station at Uyombo Girls High School so that we can collect data to be sure if the area is viable,” he said

He said the agency has been sensitising several groups from the area including women, youths and the clergy.